Annotated Bibliography

An Advertisement for DDT. ​The DDT Story​, Pesticide Action Network,

www.panna.org/resources/ddt-story. Accessed 28 Dec. 2018. This is an advertisement for

DDT depicting a parrot encouraging people to use DDT not only outside, but also inside

their homes. The bright parrot and the positive connotations make the chemical seem

innocent and trustworthy. The parrot chirps for people to spray DDT in their home to kill

simple pests like the fly, this shows how DDT evolved from being used to prevent

malaria in the war zone to being a common occurrence in the lives of the american

people. Because DDT was used so easily, cutting it out of their lives would have taken a

fair amount of adjustment. However this was the choice many people chose to make to

protect the lives of the animals around them. This primary source helps show just what

people were giving up to protect the environment.

"Biomagnification: How DDT Becomes Concentrated as It Passes through a Food Chain."

Biology Pages​, 8 Aug. 2003, www.biology-pages.info/D/DDTandTrophicLevels.html.

Accessed 28 Dec. 2018. This page helps explain how and why more predatory birds, such

as ospreys and eagles, suffered larger population declines than less predatory birds. It

explains that birds higher up in the food chain had more DDT build up in the fat of their

bodies because they absorbed the DDT that they were exposed to ​and​ the DDT that their

prey was exposed to. This page relates to our thesis as many of the early court cases were

concerned with the population decline of ospreys and eagles. The plight of these birds

helped raise public awareness because they were the most acute examples of the adverse

effects of DDT on birds and their eggshells.

Bishop, Rachael. "The Legacy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring." Edited by Keith Lindblom.

American Chemical Society: Chemistry for Life​, American Chemical Society, 26 Oct.

2012,

www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/rachel-carson-silent-s

pring.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018. This secondary source explains how people became

more environmentally conscious because of the book, ​Silent Spring,​ the truths being

spread about pesticides, and the banning of DDT. The author argues that ​Silent

Spring ​was essential to spark environmental awareness and that it is still relevant to

today.

Bloom, Josh. "How Poisonous Is DDT?" ​American Council on Science and Health​, 11 Feb.

2016, www.acsh.org/news/2016/02/11/how-poisonous-is-ddt. Accessed 18 Oct. 2018.

This secondary article argues that the benefits of DDT outweigh the costs of it, and that

DDT isn't as poisonous to humans as we make it out to be. It is compiled information

from a scientist that opposes the thesis of our project, but it is still important so we can

show that we took other views into consideration.

Clutch of Mallard Eggs Contaminated by DDT. ​DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane),​ Science

Clarified, www.scienceclarified.com/Co-Di/DDT-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.html.

Accessed 28 Dec. 2018. This photograph shows a clutch of mallard eggs exposed to high

levels of DDT. DDT thins eggshells, making them more prone to breaking or not

hatching. Thinning eggshells greatly reduced many bird populations in areas where DDT

was common and this was one of the main reasons that people began to speak out against

DDT. Court cases based on the reduction of the osprey, eagle, and mallard populations
 were some of the beginnings of the environmental movement. Photographs such as this

helped raise awareness and encourage the public to speak out against DDT. This primary

source relates to our thesis because it was one driving factors of people's decision to

prioritize the environment above certain comforts, such as the easy eradication of pests.

Cone, Marla. "Should DDT Be Used to Combat Malaria?" ​Scientific American​, SPRINGER

NATURE AMERICA, 4 May 2009,

www.scientificamerican.com/article/ddt-use-to-combat-malaria/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2019.

This article reported that an international panel of scientists decided that despite its

efficacy, DDT should be phased out in countries that still use it. This author also cites

many of studies conducted showing the adverse effects on the human body, most notably

increased rates infertility and breast cancer. This article has lots of good quotes and

evidence to support our thesis as many of the scientists quoted acknowledge the merits of

DDT, but feel that there are way to combat malaria that are less harmful to humans. This

position strongly reflects our own, are therefore this article can direct us to strong

supports for our claim.

Cornell University, et al. "DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)." ​PEMP: Pesticide

Management Education Program​, edited by Cornell University, Cornell UP, 2008,

pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/ddt-ext.html. Accessed 21

Oct. 2018. This primary source website is a compiled account on DDT's effects on

animals and humans in various categories (ex. carcinogenic, teratogenic, reproductive). It

also at which dosage levels these effects became apparent and how lasting the effects are.

This website aided in our research as it helped form our thesis that the damaging effects
 of DDT to humans, animals, and the environment as a whole outweighed the benefits it

had as an effective pesticide.

"DDT: A Brief History and Status." ​United States Environmental Protection Agency​, 11 Aug.

2017, www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status.

Accessed 9 Nov. 2018. This EPA website outlines what DDT is, how DDT works, and

how different places use DDT today. The EPA website discusses the negative effects

DDT had on the environment and on humans. It also provides a brief overview of the

banning of DDT and the effects that lead to the ban. We used this source for background

information about DDT and to learn about how the pesticide effects humans. This

website wasn't used to learn about the attitudes surrounding DDT as it is mostly a factual

overview, but the impact that the public had on the legislation is mentioned. This is a

primary document because even though the author may not have dealt with DDT

firsthand, the EPA certainly did and all the facts came from the EPA database.

"The DDT Story." ​Pesticide Action Network​, Pesticide Action Network North America,

www.panna.org/about-us/our-story. Accessed 18 Oct. 2018. This secondary source was

used to outline the uses and dangers of DDT. It is extremely brief, but it serves as a good

summary of the pesticide and its past/present uses here and in other countries.

"Environmental Effects of DDT." ​Short Term Answers Vs. Long Term Solutions to Insect Pests​,

University of Delaware, 10 Nov. 1997,

www1.udel.edu/chem/C465/senior/fall97/insecticide/environ.html. Accessed 20 Jan.

2019. One part of our refute that banning DDT was worth losing an effective way to fight

malaria is that DDT effects humans and the environment. This site from the University of
 Delaware talks about how DDT affects animals from the bottom to the top of the food

chain. It also discusses how DDT is passed up the food chain, from prey to predator.

Because of this biomagnification, animals towards the top of the food chain are exposed

to more DDT because they absorb DDT from the environment around them and from the

fat build-ups in their prey. This source will help us discuss multiple aspects of our pro

DDT ban position and thesis.

Griswold, Eliza. "How ‘Silent Spring’ Ignited the Environmental Movement." ​New York Times

Magazine​, 21 Sept. 2012,

www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/how-silent-spring-ignited-the-environmental-m

ovement.html. Accessed 21 Oct. 2018. This secondary source article is an opinion piece

on the overall effects of Rachel Carson's ​Silent Spring. ​This source provides us with a

professional writer's opinion on her book. This can help us with the triumph portion of

our project.

"Kill All Insects with Secto Extra Power D.D.T." ​The Advertising Archives,​

www.advertisingarchives.co.uk/en/asset/show_zoom_window_popup.html?asset=25340

&location=grid&asset_list=25340,25325,9903&basket_item_id=undefined. Accessed 28

Dec. 2018. This magazine ad is from the 50s. It is a primary source that displays a

mosquito with the words "They Infect Your Food!" This source argues for DDT and it

can provide us with a good visual aid to help people understand why DDT was so

important and popular during the 50s and 60s.

Ladies of the Canyon/Big Yellow Taxi​. By Joni Mitchell, digital file, A&M Studios, 1970. "Big

Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell was written in 1970 as a criticism of the harm that DDT
 did to the environment. It is a primary source as it is an example of one of the sudden

bursts of environmental awareness. It supports our thesis since 1970 was around the time

that environmental legislation was put into place, and this song displays an increased

environmental awareness.

Lear, Linda. "Silent Spring." ​The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson,​ RachelCarson.org, 1996,

www.rachelcarson.org/SilentSpring.aspx. Accessed 25 Oct. 2018. This site is about

Rachel Carson and her life. The site spans a wide variety of topics, but the page we used

the most was the page about Silent Spring. It is a secondary source. We will most likely

use of pages from the website, but as this page has contributed the most to out thesis, it

was the one we chose to cite. It helped in forming our thesis, because Rachel Carson and

her book Silent Spring show just how passionate people were about getting DDT banned

and how influential it was when Americans started speaking out for the environment.

Rachel Carson's book was so popular and persuasive that even President John F Kennedy

read it when it was released.

"Malaria Death Rate Slashed with Use of Controversial DDT." ​Sydney Morning Herald​, 11 Oct.

2013,

www.smh.com.au/world/malaria-death-rate-slashed-with-use-of-controversial-ddt-20131

010-2vb7c.html​. Accessed 20 Jan. 2019. This article details that while wealthy countries

such as the US have better ways to combat malaria, many African nations do not, and so

DDT is used to fight mosquito borne diseases. The article discusses that efficacy of DDT,

such as how long it maintains effectiveness compared to other insecticides, makes it ideal

for countries experiencing large outbreaks of malaria, such as South Africa. It cites
 statistics to show how DDT has almost eliminated malaria from the once infested

country. This source was used to better understand the other side of the DDT debate.

Those who argue against the banning of DDT most commonly cite its efficacy against

mosquitoes, so better understanding this particular stance will better enable us to refute

this claim and support our thesis.

Moffatt, Mike. "The U.S. Government's Role in Environmental Protection." ThoughtCo, Oct. 26,

2018, thoughtco.com/us-governments-role-in-environmental-protection-1147507. This

secondary source website explains the roles that government has on the environment, and

the influence it has on environmental legislature. It also briefly goes over some of the

history of the EPA. This information is essential to our argument because it explains how

influential the legislature and government is on people's actions and views.

"Our Story: How EDF Got Started." ​Environmental Defense Fund​, 2018,

www.edf.org/about/our-history. Accessed 21 Oct. 2018. This primary source website

page was written by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to explain their origins and

their reasons for forming. The EDF was a major advocacy group for the banning of DDT,

and since then, they've helped pass many high-profile pieces of environmental legislation

such as the ban on leaded gasoline and clauses in the Clean Air Act. The EDF formed to

get DDT banned in Long Island to protect the osprey, they are a prime example of how

many people were very passionate about getting DDT banned.

People Milling About as a Field is Sprayed with DDT. ​The DDT Story,​ Pesticide Action

Network, www.panna.org/resources/ddt-story. Accessed 28 Dec. 2018. This photograph

shows people walking about, unconcerned, as DDT is sprayed across a field. They
 casually walk through the billowing white gas, showing just how common exposure to

large amounts of DDT was. People grew used to it, grew used to the large amounts being

pumped into the surrounding air and environment. The apathy with which the people in

the photograph regard DDT shows how before the backlash, many people viewed DDT

as harmless and had no problem with using large amounts of it. These views led to DDT

being used more and more and becoming a part of people's lives. This primary source

strengthens our thesis because cutting something that you have familiarity with out of

your life takes adjustment. People's willingness to give up and protest against something

that they used so much shows how much they cared about helping the wildlife affected

by the chemical.

Photo of DDT and other pesticides and insecticides. ​Time Magazine,​

time.com/3923291/ddt-pregnancy-breast-cancer/. Accessed 28 Dec. 2018. This photo

displays DDT and other pesticides and insecticides. We are using it in our display board

for the final project. It will aid our thesis as it will provide a visual aid.

Plane Spraying DDT. ​The DDT Story​, Pesticide Action Network,

www.panna.org/resources/ddt-story. Accessed 28 Dec. 2018. This photograph shows a

privately owned plane spraying the pesticide DDT across the fields of a farmer. The

billowing white clouds spreading out and covering the area shown depict just how

heavily used the pesticide was before it was banned. This primary source relates to our

thesis as our thesis states that DDT was banned because the american public felt that the

adverse effects on the environment outweighed all of the positives. Many of the negative

effects on people had yet to proven, so the action was purely to protect the environment.
 DDT was used heavily on farms and in houses across the country, and this photograph

shows just much banning DDT would have changed the way that the american people

protected themselves from insects.

President's Science Advisory Committee. ​Use of Pesticides​. ​John F. Kennedy Presidential

Library and Museum,​

www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-087-003.aspx. Accessed 21 Oct.

2018. This primary document provides information on John F. Kennedy's committee's

thoughts on why pesticides were so important to the health of the people. This report

reveals that pesticides were essential to fighting malaria and that the benefits of DDT

outweigh the costs.

Rosenberg, Tina. "What the World Needs Now Is DDT." ​The New York Times Magazine,​ 11

Apr. 2004,

www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/magazine/what-the-world-needs-now-is-ddt.html.

Accessed 20 Jan. 2019. This tertiary source was most useful in allowing us to familiarize

ourselves with the opposing claim to our own. A major part of supporting your opinion is

to understand the other so that you can refute it accurately. The major counterclaim for

our thesis is that the lives lost to malaria wasn't worth preventing the environmental

effects of DDT. This article provided many statistics to support the counterclaim, but it

also revealed the best areas for us to refute. The best example of this is that South African

government and scientists are aware of the adverse effects on humans, such as increased

rates of infertility and breast cancer, and still spray DDT inside the homes of people in

high risk areas. Knowing that the usage of DDT isn't due to ignorance will allow us to
 tailor our refuting statements to properly address the position of the other side of the

debate.

"The Story of Silent Spring." ​Natural Resources Defense Council​, 13 Aug. 2015,

www.nrdc.org/stories/story-silent-spring. Accessed 6 Nov. 2018. This website is focused

on preserving and protecting nature. This secondary source article offers a prospective

that leans heavily towards the side that argues the negatives of DDT outweigh the

positives. This site praises Rachel Carson and the work that she did, along with the

effects it had on society.

United States, Congress, CDC. ​Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).​ ​CDC Environmental

Health,​ Nov. 2009, www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/pdf/ddt_factsheet.pdf. Accessed 20 Jan.

2019. This primary source is a report issued by the CDC based on studies done on the

effects DDT has on people for various levels of exposure. This report backs our claim

that phasing out DDT to prevent the negative effects is worth using a less effective

insecticide to combat malaria. There are many ways to fight mosquitoes, but DDT can

cause seizures, reproductive issues, and cancer in humans. Not only this, but DDT can

pass from a pregnant mother to her fetus, increasing the likelihood of health issues for the

infant.

United States, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. ​California v. Montrose Chemical Corp​. 18

Sept. 2017. ​The United States Department of Justice​, U.S Department of Justice,

www.justice.gov/enrd/us-v-montrose-chem-corp. Accessed 21 Oct. 2018. The primary

source website provides a brief overview of the case, including the defendant (Montrose

Chem. Corp), the plaintiff (state of California), and the circumstances that lead to the
 case being filed. The Montrose Chem. Corp. had discharged millions of gallons of DDT

into the ocean waters off of the Southern California coast. The bald eagles known to nest

in the area were wiped out and the peregrine falcons were almost wiped out; not only

this, but birds in the area still show levels of DDT in their blood much higher than the

national average. This was one of the first cases where an official government body had

taken such strong action against DDT, which shows just how bad DDT was for the

wildlife.

W. Alton Jones Foundation. ​Developmental Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in

Wildlife and Humans​. Government Publishing Office, 10 Oct. 1993. ​National Center for

Biotechnology Information​, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2018. This

primary source report includes a lot of cold science facts that relate to what DDT does to

human and animal bodily systems. It goes in depth into what happens to them and why it

happens to them. This supports our thesis because the facts included in this article are

well researched and explain the negative effects of DDT.

Wicks, Samuel. Email interview. 7 Nov. 2018. We emailed the NRDC some questions and

Samuel Wicks, the Senior Public Education Associate wrote us back explaining how the

banning of DDT set the stage for later pieces of environmental legislation and whether or

not Silent Spring was effective in raising public awareness. He also wrote about how

important Silent Spring was for nature and human life. This email interview helped us get

a better understanding of people's opinions on the banning of DDT and Silent Spring.

Wurster, Charles. "DDT wars and the birth of EDF." ​Environmental Defense Fund​, 2015,

www.edf.org/sites/default/files/specialreport_summer2015.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec. 2018.

 Interview. This primary source interview is with Charles Wurster, a founding trustee of

the Environmental Defense Fund, an organization whose sources were used in some of

our other research. It goes over the timeline of events that Wurster experienced leading

up to and after the banning of DDT, and provides information on the dangers and effects

DDT has on animals. This connects to our thesis because it is a firsthand source

describing the dangers of DDT and it goes over the steps it took to get the government to

ban DDT. It also has information on how involved other organizations got in banning

DDT.

WWII soldiers being sprayed with DDT. ​Whale.to,​ www.whale.to/vaccines/ddt_spraying.html.

Accessed 29 Dec. 2018. This photograph can be used to illustrate why DDT rose to

prominence. DDT was originally used to control malaria and typhus outbreaks within the

troops of the Allied Powers during the second world war. Contrary to how it is

sometimes portrayed, DDT has benefits as well. It will important for us to present these

benefits to enhance our claim that the American public was willing to sacrifice to serve

the greater environmental good.

Young, Emma. "DDT Finally Linked to Human Health Problems." ​NewScientist,​ 13 July 2001,

www.newscientist.com/article/dn1012-ddt-finally-linked-to-human-health-problems/.

Accessed 23 Oct. 2018. This webpage is compiled data and the recorded effects DDT has

had on mothers with high DDT levels in their blood and on those children. Emma Young

sites Matthew Longnecker, a researcher for the US National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences in North Carolina, who hypothesized that high DDT levels in mother's

blood could have accounted for up to 15% of all infant deaths in 1960s. This is because
high DDT levels in the mother's blood led to an increase in premature births and lower

birth weights, which increases the chances of infant death. This aided us in forming our

thesis because Young also cited data that showed that malaria carrying mosquitos in

South Africa (where DDT is still used) have started developing a resistance to DDT, but

humans haven't. If children are being given a higher risk of infant death, and the

mosquitos aren't being killed as effectively, then the downsides of DDT certainly

outweigh the benefits.