Hi Kennuchelover,


The effects of breakdown products are studied, and in a great deal of detail. The environmental fate of pesticides is now part of the data that needs to be supplied in order to obtain a license for the product, at least in the UK.

With regard to the other methods of mosquito control - Bt wasn't an option at the time, fish are great but much of the problem doesn't occur in lakes and marshes but in small water traps - gutters, old tires, old pots, you name it, mossies will breed in it. Mosquito netting evidently failed to stop millions of people developing the disease.

The world wide use of DDT wasn't about arrogance, except in terms of the fact that the people involved genuinely thought they could wipe out a disease that kills millions every year. They were certainly naiive but well intentioned. Of course, we all know what the road to hell was paved with...

Pete

God is our guide! from field, from wave, From plough, from anvil, and from loom; We come, our country's rights to save, And speak a tyrant faction's doom: We raise the watch-word liberty; We will, we will,we will be free!