Beebadge

A History of Pesticide Development since Silent Spring

By greenfrank
  • Period: to

    A HIstory fo Pesticide Development

  • Organochlorines, such as DDT, that accumulate in food chains, are in routine use.

    Organochlorines, such as DDT, that accumulate in food chains, are in routine use.

    DDT causes crashes in population of birds like golden eagles, peregrines and sparrow hawks. The evidence that something had gone terribly wrong was overwhelming. Still chemical companies and the government said there was no definite proof, and refused to ban DDT. Finally banned in 1983 after 30 years
    of mounting evidence.
  • Organophosphates (originally developed as a nerve gas for military use) such as Chlorfenvinphos are in routine use.

    Organophosphates (originally developed as a nerve gas for military use) such as Chlorfenvinphos are in routine use.

    The chemistry of warfare, designed to kill people, was now being applied to our countryside to kill insects. They begin to appear in many official cause-for-concern priority lists because of their toxicity, especially to the aquatic environment. Chlorfenvinphos banned for agriculture in 2007 after around
    60 years of use.