Question by Matt:
Should we lift restrictions on DDT and Propoxur to combat the bedbug epidemic?
Should EPA reconsider the DDT & Propoxur restrictions, which seem like the only chemicals proven to be effective against bedbugs?
Children were literally hosed down with the stuff in the 1940s and 1950s and they seem ok.
Is it possible the immediate benefits to lifting the restrictions outweigh the largely unsubstantiated health concerns surrounding such chemicals?
Thanks
Best answer:
Answer by New name, it must be spring!
1. They are not unsubstantiated concerns. They have both human studies and lab animal studies proving exposure to these chemicals is not good for you. Yes they hosed children down with these things and yes incidents of cancer and other problems went up.
2. I read the same article as you did today, you’ll notice that they mention that these bedbugs are able to survive DDT and that Propoxur would only have a limited amount of time to be useful before the populations would also be resistant to ti as well.
3. Having read the same article, I found the idea of eradicating these problems by raising the temperature to be a better idea.
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Absolutely
The arguments against DDT came from environmentalist. The same ones the pushed the global warming scam. That fact alone is enough to justify lifting the restrictions on DDT
In the early 40’s I remember my mom having a bag of ddt and used it when we went to hotels in case there were any bedbugs. Bedbugs were everywhere. Fortunately we did not have them at home but if we would have we would have slept with ddt. DDT was used to combat head lice too. It worked. Gardens had it sprinkled it on them and we ate the veggies after washing them. I remember my dad getting mad over not being able to buy it any longer. The biggest argument was that it could kill birds. Well at least the birds are ok and we will fight bedbugs, head lice and grub worms with stuff that don’t work. DDT did NOT affect humans..so if we use it in the house, birds cant get hold of it.