Chasing the DDT Truck

It’s a Wonder I’m Still Alive......

DDT is a synthetic pesticide that was used, or I should say, overused in the 1950’s and 60’s. DDT is still the most effective way to control mosquitoes today, yet its use is banned in most countries.

Millions of lives could be saved from malaria in underdeveloped countries if the use of DDT resumed. Like its overuse, DDT is far under used today.

When I was a child the city would come around and spray DDT to control mosquitoes. The truck usually came out at dusk, and it had a peculiar sounding pump that sprayed a gigantic fog of DDT all over the neighborhood.

We would get on our bicycles and chase the truck joyously laughing and breathing in the pesticide. After all, surely adults wouldn’t spay a hazardous material on innocent children.

7 comments:

MELackey said...

After reading for a while, I would say you are still very much alive, but I would not say you were unaffected...

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

LOL...you are probably right.

mr zig said...

it is a good thing you are not a mosquito ! heheh

Chris said...

That's too funny!
My dad has told me the exact same story. What was the appeal of running through a cloud of fog anyway?

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

There wasn't a lot going on back then. TV sucked, no computers of video games. It's likely we didn't have AC so you stayed outside and maybe played hide and go seek or kick the can. Can you now see the appeal of pesticide being sprayed loudly from a fast moving truck?

Peach Pod said...

Ummm, I did this, too [hangs head down]. Another 'adult' safety moment: my dad would paint a line from one side of the road in front of our house to the other side. It was our version of a badminton net!

dGarry39 said...

And they should reinvent that DDT to be more less harmful to human and pets, yet should be very effective against mosquitoes.