Times have Changed?

In 1962,

the United States was being showered with DDT sprayed from airplanes to control the mosquito population, "Better living through chemistry" was a popular phrase. The result of DDT's application killed birds and poisoned animals (almost to the point of extinction).


In 1969,

the national Cancer Institute declared that DDT caused cancer in humans.
The federal government banned the use of DDT in 1972.
A recent Lancet report linked exposure to organochlorine compounds found in wartime nerve agents and many pesticides, with cancer. Humans with high concentrations of DDT and other pesticides were more that five times apt to have genetic mutations for pancreatic cancer than people with lower levels of these toxins. Workers milling conventionally grown corn have been found to have higher incidence of chronic disease and death.

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Last Update: 09/29/2000