Road to Pesticides
"insect-borne diseases, such as malaria and typhoid, which generally claimed far more victims on the battle front than bombs, guns and artillery... the army set out to develop portable aerosol insecticide sprays that troops could use for protection on the front lines..."
- Dianne Dumanoski, The End of the Long Summer, 2009
- Dianne Dumanoski, The End of the Long Summer, 2009
During the world wars, death by insect-borne diseases exceeded the fatalities on the battlefield. The creation of DDT provided protection for the soldiers abroad and soon after sheltered the civilians at home.
World War II: Death by Insect
"Eventually, pockets of troops, many in the South Pacific, unwittingly became guinea pigs for potential anti-malaria drugs. But certain treatments were worthless or harmful, leaving numerous service members with lasting organ damage..."
- Karen Masterson, The Malaria Project, 2014 |