tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030220433025894048.post4765756241716907938..comments2023-11-03T08:02:25.369-04:00Comments on AmericanScience: A Team Blog: David Kinkela on DDT, American politics, and transnational historyDavid Roth Singermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12841041983824755867noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030220433025894048.post-7310297399271075812013-01-22T02:33:11.646-05:002013-01-22T02:33:11.646-05:00Great Post, i love itGreat Post, i love itBali Hotelshttp://www.balinesehotel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030220433025894048.post-43476917432702223962013-01-17T10:19:25.759-05:002013-01-17T10:19:25.759-05:00"Since the 1970s malaria rates have increased...<i>"Since the 1970s malaria rates have increased tremendously."</i><br /><br />Gee, even Dr. Kinkela appears to have fallen victim to the CEI propaganda machine.<br /><br />In 1959 and 1960, the peak-use years for DDT, malaria infections were counted to be about a half-billion (500 million), and 4 million people died worldwide, from malaria.<br /><br />By 1972 and the U.S. ban on DDT use on cotton crops in Arkansas (about the only agricultural use left), infection numbers were not much swayed, but deaths had dropped by about half, to 2 million per year.<br /><br />In 2010, malaria infections dropped to 250 million -- a decrease of 50% since peak use of DDT -- and deaths were under 800,000, perhaps under 700,000 -- a reduction of more than 75%.<br /><br />These numbers are remarkable considering that in the same time the world's population more than doubled, and many hundreds of millions of people more live in malaria-endemic areas than in 1960. <br /><br />Malaria infections and deaths may be a the lowest counts in recorded human history. <br /><br />Do the math: Malaria infection rates have been cut by about 75%, and the death rate has been cut even more.<br /><br />I'm sure Dr. Kinkela will be happy to note the facts on this issue. It makes the criticism of Rachel Carson all the more bizarre and wrong.<br /><br />(Figures here, among other places: http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/world-malaria-report-2012-malaria-still-declining-but-more-resources-needed-fast/Ed Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10056539160596825210noreply@blogger.com