Atrazine, the DDT of the 21st Century

In the 1950s Americans sprayed the toxic pesticide DDT as we spray air freshener today, without question. DDT was intended to exterminate unwanted insects, however it turned out to be damaging to other animals including humans. During Thursday’s discussion, a lot of us found it hard to believe that people could spray poison on themselves without thinking of the health consequences. After all, Americans of the 21st century have enough common sense to consider that a killer of other living things could naturally be harmful to humans as well. I am, however, not convinced of this notion.

I believe that many Americans are still disinclined to question our government’s choices, even when these choices may have a particular negative affect on our health. Although, DDT was discontinued in the U.S. in 1972, a similar chemical herbicide and pesticide is in wide use today, Atrazine. If more Americans do not begin questioning the negative impacts of Atrazine, it will not be banned and its destructive effects will continue.

Atrazine is the most widely used herbicide and a frequently used pesticide in the United States. This is ironic, as the chemical is banned in the entire continent of Europe due to its dangerous affects on animals and humans, “When tadpoles are exposed to the pesticide at 1/30,000th of “safe” levels, 20 percent of them become hermaphroditic and sterile adults,” (Hawken, 33). Several studies also suggest that the chemical is even cancer causing. A study at an Atrazine manufacturing plant showed employees with elevated levels of prostate cancer, (NRDC). Atrazine impacts the entire population, not only farmers and plant workers. It is sprayed on food crops that we commonly eat and leaks into rivers from which our drinking water comes.

Unfortunately, this dangerous chemical is very beneficial to the farming industry and therefore to our economy. It will not be given up easily. The negative impacts of using Atrazine need to mean more to the government than the positive. If the general population believes this then Atrazine will soon be off the market. Americans may have come a long way in the realization that DDT is harmful to our health, but for some reason that realization has not carried over to other pesticides. While our class sat in astonishment contemplating the ignorance of past Americans, we overlooked the fact that a very similar situation is happening today. Now is the time for America to stop poisoning themselves.

Work Cited:
“EPA Won't Restrict Toxic Herbicide Atrazine, Despite Health Threat - White House documents obtained by NRDC reveal that industry influenced the decision.” Natural Resource Defense Council, 2004.

Hawken, Paul. Blessed Unrest – How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World. New York: Penguin Books, 2007.