Risks of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Use - Paper Example

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is an affordable and effective pesticide used against common plant pests. However, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane poses a significant risk to the health of human beings. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane does not decompose rapidly which makes it washed up through rain water into the rivers where it is consumed by aquatic species in the water. The birds which are on top of the food chain are not left out from harm by Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane because they consume insects which have consumed the non-bio degradable Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane causing reproductive problems. The population growth of the people around areas using Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is affected by consuming water, eating birds and also consuming plants products which contain some elements of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane which affect the reproductive system and cause infertility in men and women (Kabir, Rahman, & Rahman, 2015).

Precautionary Principle & Risks Assessment in Decision Making

The precautionary principle argues that the people in charge of decision making should resist the introduction of new products whose implications to the environment are unknown or disputed. This principle can be used to desist the use of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane by farmers because already its impacts to the environment are disputed, and the only factual information available is that Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is harmful to the environment because it is non-bio degradable (Kabir, Rahman, & Rahman, 2015).

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane cost and benefits

Costs

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is non-bio degradable and has severe implications for the environment and also to the human beings upon the consumption of food substances that are sprayed with Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or drinking water that has been infested with Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane which drains to the water bodies during rainy seasons (Kabir, Rahman, & Rahman, 2015).

Benefits

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is very effective in killing small pests that destroy plants and also cause diseases in human beings. Further, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is easily affordable compared to other pesticides in the market (Kabir, Rahman, & Rahman, 2015).

Assessing & Accepting the Risks

The use of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane should be prohibited and disallowed in agriculture as well as the control of pests such as mosquitoes. The cost factors are more than the benefits of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane due to the existence of alternatives in the market. The risks should not be accepted because human life and population growth are essential to the growth of the economy. Instead, the government of Ethiopia should invest in alternatives which are readily in the markets and biodegradable (Kabir, Rahman, & Rahman, 2015).

References

Kabir, E. R., Rahman, M. S., & Rahman, I. (2015). A review of endocrine disruptors and theirpossible impacts on human health. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology, 40(1), 241-258.