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DDT used for a special application?

Modern pesticides are shown to NOT be effective against bedbugs. The major contribution to our health of DDT was to destroy bedbugs when it was first distributed. My Father was a physician in Philadelphia, Pa just before World War II. He siad that when the bums were sprayed with DDT, when you walked across the floor, it sounded like walking on peanut shells - there were so many bedbugs and fleas. Today, hotel beds permit breeding and distribution of bedbugs. It is clear that elimination them from the country's hotels would provide a measure of increased safety.

The issue with DDT was not human exposure, but of bird exposure to the latent residue. Back in the day, we used DDT everywhere we could afford - in very large quantities, and the birds absorbed it. My point is, the usage in hotels would be one ten-thousandth of the previous usage levels and the venue is distinctly away from the birds. Could we consider using it in hotels, with certified technicians?

2 Answers

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    It does not break down easily, even in soil. Organic farms can be excluded by detecting small levels of DDT that were spread 50 years ago in a soil sample. Sure it is effective but it will contaminate the hotel for decades.. The only way to remove DDT would be to burn it under intense heat with the fumes being toxic or composting it which can be done to neutralize the toxins.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Nope.

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