1. DDT A Brief and Controversial History

2. In the Beginning… Who: Paul Muller, a Swiss chemist Where: J.R. Geigy company in Switzerland When: 1930s What: –Sought a way to protect wool from moths –Began experimenting with DDT first, then switched to other chemicals –RESULTS…the flies died…ALL of them… Muller sent the chemical to New York, where it fell into the hands of Victor Froelicher who translated the chemical and its powers into English

3. Early Tests Beakers with Mosquitoes Results? It took only a few specks of the chemical to eradicate the targeted insect population!

4. Also during that time… What: WWII Problem: –Troops were being affected by insect-born diseases in BIG WAYS. –Example: 10,000 or 17,000 men were sick with malaria Solution: DDT

5. Dramatic Uses with Positive, Immediate Effects Secret factories were set up to produce the chemical 1944: 1 MILLION people in Naples were dusted with the substance, which warded off typhus epidemic DDT “Bombs” –Used to help dust people –Used as prevention and dropped before troops landed

6. The Fallout Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants –90 countries signed treaty banning use of DDT India and China are the only countries than manufacture substance WHY?!?!?!?!?!

7. “Top of the Food Chain” To have a successful read, note the following… The story takes place at a Congressional Hearing. It is at this hearing that our narrator talks about Borneo and the use of DDT. The narrator relies on jargon, or highly technical language. The story is missing some things…namely, the voices of the Congressmen questioning our narrator!

8. Read #1 During Reading: + Positive consequence of DDT -Negative consequence of DDT U.C.Unintended Consequence