Vol. 13 No. 6
Editor - Jan Weaver
415 Tucker Hall, MU 65211
by Jan Weaver
The 100th Anniversary of Rachel Carson's Birthday was May 27th. To honor her contributions to the environment and public health, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin wanted to present a Senate Resolution recognizing her, but abandoned the plan when Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn opposed it. Here's Coburn's reason - according to his spokesperson John Hart:
"Rachel Carson's work both directly and indirectly created a climate of hysteria and misinformation about the impact of DDT on the human populations,.... Obviously her central claim about what it does to ecosystems was largely correct. But her approach was consistent with a lot of environmental rhetoric which tends to sensationalize the facts .... [spawning]....an unscientific bias against DDT.....The result of that is that millions of people in the developing world died because the environmental movement inspired by Rachel Carson, created a climate of fear and hysteria about DDT"
Actually, Coburn' comments are mild compared to those of other critics who hold Carson, William Ruckelshaus (who banned agricultural uses of DDT in the U.S) and "eco-imperialists" directly responsible for a million malaria deaths a year.
"It might be easy for some to dismiss the past 43 years of eco-hysteria over DDT with a simple 'never mind,'" asserted Steve Milloy, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, "except for the blood of millions of people dripping from the hands of the WWF, Greenpeace, Rachel Carson, Environmental Defense Fund, and other junk science-fueled opponents of DDT."
Carson is routinely criticized for her "extreme" rhetoric regarding DDT. While the chapters of Silent Spring do have some hair raising titles - "Elixirs of Death", "Rivers of Death", and "Beyond the Dreams of the Borgias" - Carson was reacting to the chemical industry's widespread promotion of the new organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides as essentially harmless. While less toxic than the lead and arsenic compounds used before WWII, Carson, in her work as a federal scientist, saw a dramatic increase of reported wildlife poisonings from these new pesticides in the popular and scientific literature. Reports started trickling in during the late 1940's, but by the late 1950's there were a least a dozen papers a year reporting poisonings from pesticide runoff, spraying, and most worrisome, the accumulation of pesticides up the food chain. By characterizing these pesticides as harmless, chemical companies led farmers, foresters, and other applicators to assume they could be applied indiscriminately, so they were, and in much greater amounts than the earlier pesticides had been.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to wonder what effect these pesticides might be having on people if supposedly non-lethal doses were killing birds, fish and mammals. And while epidemiological research still does not provide clear evidence of a relation between DDT and cancer, some animals studies do. This is a lot like trying to figure out if cigarettes cause lung cancer, you can't do controlled experiments on humans, so you have to rely on animal studies and case histories of people whose actual exposure you have no data on. It is just really hard to tell for sure either way.
However, the kicker in this pernicious characterization of Carson's work is that it appears to completely ignore the plea in the second to last chapter of Silent Spring: " The Rumblings of an Avalanche". No, she was not talking about an avalanche of cancer, she was talking about an avalanche of resistance- the tendency for insects to evolve ways to survive pesticide applications.
"No responsible person contends that insect-borne disease should be ignored. The question that has now urgently presented itself is whether it is either wise or responsible to attack the problem by methods that are rapidly making it worse.....The list of resistant species now includes practically all of the insect groups of medical importance....Malaria programs are threatened by resistance among mosquitoes .....Resistance to insecticides by mosquitoes of the anophelene group [which carry Malaria] has surged upward at an astounding rate, being created by the thoroughness of the very house-spraying programs designed to eliminate Malaria. In 1956, only 5 species of these mosquitoes displayed resistance; by early 1960 the number had risen from 5 to 28! The number includes very dangerous malaria vectors in West Africa, the Middle East, Central America, Indonesia, and the eastern European region."
The World Health Organization began a program in 1955 to eradicate Malaria. Predicated on the early effectiveness of DDT, it consisted primarily of regular spraying of interior walls, and monitoring and treatment of individual cases with drug therapies. It was successful in eliminating Malaria in temperate areas in North America, Europe and parts of Asia, but by 1970 the campaign in the tropics had failed because of wars, poverty, and development of resistance to drugs by the parasite and to DDT by the mosquitoes. For example, in India, spraying begun in 1946 dramatically reduced Malaria, but when ramped up in 1958 as part of the global eradication campaign, it led to mosquito resistance to pesticides in 1959 and by 1965, a major reemergence of the disease. Even today, resurgence in India is not linked to bans on DDT promoted by "eco-imperialists" - because there is no ban - but to resistance to DDT combined with development projects which have created new habitats for the mosquito, or as the authors of one paper put it "man-made malaria". In fact, if Ruckleshaus hadn't banned DDT for agricultural purposes in the U.S, whatever his reasons, the problem of resistance might be even more widespread than it currently is, because the use of DDT on cotton, and other agricultural crops far outstripped its use for public health purposes, and created tremendous selection pressure for resistance.
The demonization of Carson, Ruckleshaus and environmentalists, and the apparently mindless focus on DDT as the savior of millions seriously undermines the thoughtful consideration of all the tools we will need - including DDT - to fight this scourge of humanity. Perhaps if more people read Silent Spring all the way to the end, we might be able to make some progress on all insect borne diseases, not just Malaria.
Sierra Club on DDT: http://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/ddt/
World Wildlife Fund on DDT: http://worldwildlife.org/toxics/pubs/inc5ddt.pdf
Pesticide Action Network on DDT: http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/beyondDdt.pdf
NY Times Opinion citing WWF & Greenpeace positions: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/08/opinion/8kristof.html?ex=1262926800&en=3906217f5764e4b0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
Environmental Defense Fund on DDT: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/5046_DDT-letterUSAID.pdf
Wikipedia on DDT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT
BioRegional Quiz - What insect is flashing in your yard at night? A bug, a fly or a beetle?
BATS ON PARADE: June 1 - 30 pick up a bat for decorating at the library or at Twilight Festival (Flat Branch area). Bat Decorating Sat June 16 10:00 Library - reservations 573-443-3161 http://rockbridge.missouri.org
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION SHAKESPEARE'S DONATION DAY: Wednesday Thursday June 7, all day, both Shakespeare's - 15% of what you purchase goes to CGC - get donation flyer at http://cgc.missouri.org/eventsnew.shtml
ONES MEETING: Friday June 8, 7:30 am, UpRise Bakery. Meeting for representataives of Outdoor, Nature, Environmental and Sustainability Groups in Central Missouri Region. 573-882-3037 / weaverjc@missouri.edu or 573/ 239-4267
BIKEPRO YOUTH (10-14)BIKE CLASSES: Mons 6/11, 6/18, 7/2, 7/9 6:00-8:00 - Rock Quarry House; Sats 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4 9:00-11:00 - Parkade; Weds 8/8, 8/15, 8/22, 8/29 6:00-8:00 - Riechmann Pav, Stephens Lake - $10, 874-7460 / www.pednet.org
CONFIDENT CITY CYCLING (15 -ADULT): Weds 6/13, 6/20, 6/27 5:30 -8:30 - Parkade Center; Weds 7/11, 7/18, 7/25 5:30 -8:30 - Riechmann Pav, Stephens Lake; Saturdays 8/11, 8/18, 8/25 9:00 - Noon, Rock Quarry House - $20, 874-7460 / www.pednet.org
BIKE COMMUTING CLASS (ADULT): Tues 6/12 5:30 - 8:30, Armory or Tues 7/10 5:30 - 8:30 Armory, $15, 874-7460 pednet.org
JOHN IKERD BOOK READING & SIGNING: Wed June 13, 7:00 - Peace Nook. "A Return to Common Sense"
NATURE DETECTIVES (3-6 YEARS OLD + ADULT) : Wednesday June 13, Tuesday July 10, Wednesday August 8. Learn how to experience and enjoy nature with your preschooler in Rock Bridge State Park. Free but reservations required 573-815-9255
ENERGY ACTIVIST GATHERING: Saturday June 16, 5:00 - mail@mosafeenergy.org
ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER: Saturday June 16 - McBaine, Huntsdale or Rocheport. Katy Trail Ride, Canoe or Kayak Trip on the River, food, drinks and live music at Cooper's Landing. $25 ind / $50 families 573-256-2602 or moriver.org
HIKE THE GANS: Saturday June 16, 1:00 - Devil's Icebox Parking Lot, Rock Bridge State Park. Hike the Gans and help take measurements of the stream's shape. Strenuous, Wet, Muddy! If you come, dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, repellent, water.
BAT VIEWING AND CAVE TOURS (8 - ADULT) AT ROCK BRIDGE (PART OF BATS ON PARADE): Saturday June 16 7:30, Saturday July 14 7:30, Saturday August 18 7:00 - reservations 573-449-7402
NATIVE PLANT FIELD DAY: Thursday June 21 4:00 - 8:00, Bradford Farm http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/news/npfd.stm
AQUATIC EDUCATION: CONNECTING HEALTHY HABITATS: Thursday & Friday July 5 & 6. Missouri Department of Conservation Professional Development Workshop 573-882-8388 to register
PORTABLE CAVE, STORYTELLING (PART OF BATS ON PARADE): Thursday July 12 6:30 Library, register at 573-443-3161.
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
BIG CANOE: 573-875-8590 / bryce_crispies@yahoo.com / http://www.bigcanoemo.org/ - Saturday workdays 10-1 at 406 Sanford
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION: 573-529-9273, http://www.columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
CITIZENS WATERSHED COMMITTEE: (573) 526-8916, Third Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Daniel Boone Bldg
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off/ buy 1906 Monroe St. Columbia Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Sat 8-1 1pm,
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Answer to BioRegional Quiz - In spite of its common names of lighting bug and firefly, the insect flashing in your yard at night is a beetle in the family Lampyridae (get it - Lampyridae). The flashing is how male beetles persuade female beetles to mate. Different species have different flashing patterns - Photinus pyralis has a J-shaped dance lasting .5-.75 seconds. The male waits 2 seconds for a female to flash back. If she doesn't he'll move on a bit and try again. The Photuris species flash repeatedly but different species flash at different rates, kind of like different morse code messages. Check out the flashing patterns at http://www.byteland.org/naturalist/firefly_faq.html#photinusflashpatterns.
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
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