Growing up we learn the bald eagle is the nation's bird; it stands for freedom and pride for our country. We also learn the bald eagle is an endangered species but did you know it was on the brink of extinction? If it wasn't a national symbol it may well have died off like other species affected by DDT.
Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane: say that tens times fast!
DDT was invented in 1939 by Paul Muller who later received a Nobel Prize for his work in 1948. DDT was invented to kill insects which greatly damaged crops but the insects turned out to be smarter.
The common house fly led the resistance against DDT follow by the mosquitoes in 1960. Mosquitoes evolved to resist DDT is the reason why malaria is still existent today; if DDT was not invented, mosquitoes would not have evolved and malaria could have been eradicated. Over 500 species of insects have be come resistant to DDT.
On the other hand, countless species have been infected with DDT and some even became extinct. Think of it this way...
DDT is sprayed on crops
Crops are eaten by insects
Insects are eaten by fish
Fish are eaten by birds
Thus, the Bald Eagle is getting the highest concentration of DDT so that is why it is endangered!
I didn't even mention the fact, that people used to eat crops sprayed with DDT. The EPA banned DDT in 1972 but it is still used in some countries. Pesticides kill 67 million birds a year in the United States. What can you do to avoid DDT and other pesticides? Eat organic crops and look for products that say "pesticide free".
Eat and consume pesticide free; save the environment and the Bald Eagle!
Information in this post is from my GPH 314: Global Change course at Arizona State University.
Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane: say that tens times fast!
DDT was invented in 1939 by Paul Muller who later received a Nobel Prize for his work in 1948. DDT was invented to kill insects which greatly damaged crops but the insects turned out to be smarter.
The common house fly led the resistance against DDT follow by the mosquitoes in 1960. Mosquitoes evolved to resist DDT is the reason why malaria is still existent today; if DDT was not invented, mosquitoes would not have evolved and malaria could have been eradicated. Over 500 species of insects have be come resistant to DDT.
On the other hand, countless species have been infected with DDT and some even became extinct. Think of it this way...
DDT is sprayed on crops
Crops are eaten by insects
Insects are eaten by fish
Fish are eaten by birds
Thus, the Bald Eagle is getting the highest concentration of DDT so that is why it is endangered!
I didn't even mention the fact, that people used to eat crops sprayed with DDT. The EPA banned DDT in 1972 but it is still used in some countries. Pesticides kill 67 million birds a year in the United States. What can you do to avoid DDT and other pesticides? Eat organic crops and look for products that say "pesticide free".
Eat and consume pesticide free; save the environment and the Bald Eagle!
Information in this post is from my GPH 314: Global Change course at Arizona State University.
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