how a toxin in a food web will harm some while killing others-why did the mosquitos and cats die while other things lived? why you think DDT has been banned in the U.S. but is still in production and used in countries all over the world. DDT is being used around the world, but not in the U.S.-are we still exposed to it? Why or why not? you think scientists should have sprayed the island with DDT? If not, what should they have done about the Malaria issue? THE DAY THEY PARACHUTED CATS IN BORNEO (Operation Cat Drop) In the early 1950’s the Dayak people in Borneo suffered from malaria. The World Health Organization had a solution: they sprayed large amounts of DDT to kill off mosquitoes which carried the malaria. The mosquitoes died, the malaria declined. But there were some unforeseen side-effects. Among the first was that the roofs of people’s houses began to fall down on their heads. It seemed that the DDT was also killing a parasitic wasp which had previously controlled thatch-eating caterpillars. Also, while the DDT killed mosquitoes, others insects, such as roaches, merely stored DDT in their bodies. The roaches were eaten by lizards which also inhabited Borneo. Instead of killing the lizards the DDT only slowed them down. This made it easier for cats to catch the lizards, one of their favorite foods. The lizards eventually disappeared and the cats died from eating the poisoned lizards. Rats moved in because there were no cats to control their population. Rats brought in
how a toxin in a food web will harm some while killing others-why did the mosquitos and cats die while other things lived? why you think DDT has been banned in the U.S. but is still in production and used in countries all over the world. DDT is being used around the world, but not in the U.S.-are we still exposed to it? Why or why not? you think scientists should have sprayed the island with DDT? If not, what should they have done about the Malaria issue? THE DAY THEY PARACHUTED CATS IN BORNEO (Operation Cat Drop) In the early 1950’s the Dayak people in Borneo suffered from malaria. The World Health Organization had a solution: they sprayed large amounts of DDT to kill off mosquitoes which carried the malaria. The mosquitoes died, the malaria declined. But there were some unforeseen side-effects. Among the first was that the roofs of people’s houses began to fall down on their heads. It seemed that the DDT was also killing a parasitic wasp which had previously controlled thatch-eating caterpillars. Also, while the DDT killed mosquitoes, others insects, such as roaches, merely stored DDT in their bodies. The roaches were eaten by lizards which also inhabited Borneo. Instead of killing the lizards the DDT only slowed them down. This made it easier for cats to catch the lizards, one of their favorite foods. The lizards eventually disappeared and the cats died from eating the poisoned lizards. Rats moved in because there were no cats to control their population. Rats brought in
borneo_activity_cat_drop.docx