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phytoplankton - the producer of over
half the world's oxygen supply and the
first link of the chain of life in the sea.
Not only does DDT decrease oxygcn–
producing photosynthesis, it has a ten–
dency to be accumulated in biological
organisms and passed up the food
chain - from phytoplankton to zoo–
plankton, shrimp, small fish, larger fish
and then fish-eating birds. By the time
we get to the birds, the concentration
may have accumulated an astounding
10
million times over the original amount
present in the ocean water.
Likewise on land, these poisons are
extremely dcstructive to microorganisms
and other minute forms of Jife and life–
processcs in the soil. Interference with
these little-understood - but vitally
important - links in the ecological
cycle have profound effects.
Land bi rds, for example, accumulate
DDT by eating DDT-affected earth–
worms, caterpillars, etc. Since man cats
sorne animals high up on the food chain,
thc potential danger to man is obvious.
Chemicals of Extinction
Chemists had something great, thcy
thought, when they introduced these
highly toxic chemicals. Insects perished
by the millions when DDT and related
chlorinated hydrocarbons were first
applied.
Chemists of course knew that the
chlorinated hydrocarbons are almost
insoluble in water, but highly soluble
in lipids ( fats or fat-like materials).
Since all organisms contain lipids, the
chlorinated hydrocarbons - induding
DDT - aJways move from nonbiologi–
cal, inorganic substances into biological
organisms where they are retained.
That is why anímals in every part of
the earth - including penguins in the
Antarctic - have traces of DDT in their
body fat.
Man is no exception. The average
Briton has 5 ppm (parts per million)
DDT in his fatty tissue, the average
American
10-12
ppm, and the average
person in India
25
ppm. Collectively,
more than
20
tons of DDT is being car–
ried around in the fatty tissues of
Americans.
Research on the subtle or long-range
effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons is
T be
PLAIN TRUTH
just beginning - espe:cially in regard
to man. But what is happening to birds
and animals ought to sound the alarm.
Pesticides have virtually wiped out
certain bird species by upsetting an
intricate hormone-enzyme relationship
which causes thin-shellcd cggs that
crack and fall apart easi ly. They have
caused fatal nervous breakdowns in
wildlife by interrupting the nerve com·
munication system. Reccnt research
indicates DDT causes a marked altera–
tion in the sexual mechanisms of rats
and a proneness to cancer in animals
from mice to cattle.
Dr. Charles Wurster, one of the
leading authorities on chlorinated hydro–
carbons, says of these chcmicals: "All
are nerve poisons. They cause instabili ty
oc
spontaneous 'firing' of nerve cells,
and increased doses result in tremors or
convulsions - typical symptoms of
acute poisoning that can occur in
organisms rangíng from houseflies to
man. In general, if an organism has
nerves, the chlorinatcd hydrocarbons
can kili it''
(
Weeds, Trees and
T~~rf,
August
1969).
Dr. Joseph
J.
Hickey, professor of
wildlife ecology at thc University of
Wisconsin puts it bluntly: "DDT is a
chemical of extinction."
Stanford biologist, Peter Raven,
asserts: "There is rock-solid evidence on
what these chemicals do to other ani–
mals.
It
would
be
a bad mistake to
think that man is unique."
As the harmful effects come to light,
many around the world are bcginning to
speak out against thc use of DDT and
tbe chlorinated hydrocarbons. But has
this public outcry - and even limiting
or outlawing DDT in certain states and
countries - curtailed the use of pesti–
cidcs as a whole?
Not at all! Man hecdlessly and rcck–
lessly develops and uses new and more
potent pesticides than cver beforc with
little or no concern for the ultimate
outcome.
Nerve
Gases
Used as Pesticide
In many arcas, organic phosphors are
being substituted for DDT and chlori–
nated hydrocarbons. These were origi–
nally developed in World War II as
German nerve gases. Chemically, they
are cousins to the nerve agents GD and
Aprii-.May, 1970
VX involved in the current d1emical
and biological warfare controversy.
Sorne fifty million pounds of organic
phosphors are being spread unchecked
as pcsticides on America's farms and
gardcns annua lly.
Bccause these pesticides break clown
much more quickly than chlorinated
hydrocarbons, many assume they are
safer. The truth is that these odorless
and colorless chemicals are potentially
even more dangerous.
Dr. Alice Ottoboni, California State
Public Hcalth Department toxicologist,
says of organic phosphors: "As a class,
they are more immediately harmful to
man and animals than the persistent
ones." Minute amounts can kili almost
instantly cither by contact or by being
swallowed.
AJso, a nonpersistent pesticide does
not just "disappear." As it breaks clown
"lt becomes another chemical that may
be less or more toxic than its parent,"
warns Dr. Ottoboni. Very little is
known of the environmental fate of
thcsc dcgraded products of pesticidcs,
either pcrsistent or nonpersistent.
But in spite of not knowing what the
ultimatc outcome will be, man blindly
continues to use ever more potent chem–
icals in ever greater quantities.
The Vicious Cycle
Another major problem with using
pesticides is that nah1ral enemies of the
pest are often killed along with the pcst.
Since thesc natural enemies were par–
tially successful in controlling the pest
population, wiping them out tem–
porarily ]caves the pest free of impor–
tant natural restraints. Under these
circumstances, the pest will develop a
resistance through mutation and again
multiply before the natural enemies can
multiply to control them.
This resistance of insects to pesticides
is a mounting worldwide problem.
Between
1908
and
1945
only
13
species
of insects had developed resistance.
Now the figure stands at almost
150!
The current practice employed to
control these new hardy pcsts is to
develop a new, more potent pcsticide.
Instead of controlling or kiiJing thc
insect pests, a vicious cycle is creatcd -