TRUE: No malaria-related deaths due to the banning of DDT can be laid on Rachel Carson, or anyone else, although pesticide advocates seem to like the sound of this. Malaria was eradicated from the US by 1950, primarily by standing water management, larvaciding, and quinine. DDT takes no credit here. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring came out in 1962, and DDT was banned in the U.S. in 1972.

DDT was not banned in the rest of the world when it was banned in the U.S. In fact U.S. and world health officials widely and freely used it for many decades after in an unsuccessful attempt to globally eradicate malaria. It failed to eradicate malaria because of the ubiquitous ability of mosquitoes to develop resistance to chemicals, especially their overuse. This problem with DDT had been known since before 1950 and Rachel Carson mentions it in her book. It was health officials’ failure to acknowledge the limitations of DDT use, coupled with their reliance on this chemical, that ultimately doomed malaria eradication efforts.

Furthermore, populations of people who have been rendered malaria-free for a few years lose their immunity, and if malaria is reintroduced, the death rate rises to higher levels than before the failed intervention.

See “Mosquito: A Natural History of Our Most Persistent and Deadly Foe” by Andrew Spielman and Michael D’Antonio, 2001, Hyperion, NY

“TRUTH” As a once certified pesticide applicator, In many cases (much like the drivers license test) you can take the test many times at one sitting, ultimately memorizing the answers to pass the test but not learning the rules. The continuing credit classes are little more than lectures which you sing in at the start and check out (mentally) while a university professor lulls everyone to sleep.

“FACT:” Before a pesticide goes to market it must go through dozens of toxicology tests that can take up to 10 years.
“TRUTH” Does not include the adjuvant, which in many cases are many times more toxic than the pesticide, or testing in combination of adjuvant and active.

“FACT:” A healthy well maintained lawn provides cleaner air, cleaner ground water, a cooler earth and increases property value by up to 20 percent.
“TRUTH” There are many studies that show chemical fertilizers reduce soil carbon and contribute to harder more compact soils. This actually increase soil erosion and water runoff.