Waubonsee Community College

DDT wars, rescuing our national bird, preventing cancer, and creating The Environmental Defense Fund, Charles F. Wurster

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

DDT wars

bibliography

893455371

Charles F. Wurster

rescuing our national bird, preventing cancer, and creating The Environmental Defense Fund

DDT Wars is the untold inside story of the decade-long scientific, legal, and strategic campaign that culminated in the nation ban of the insecticide DDT in 1972

1. A New England town sprays its elm trees with DDT -- How did I get into this? -- DDT kills birds but doesn't save the trees -- 2. Sue the bastards Long Island : the power of an idea -- DDT goes to trial on Long Island -- Rigging the Audubon Convention : a Wall Street lawyer was unimpressed -- The Environmental Defense Fund is born -- 3. Proceed with caution, then sue the bastards in Michigan -- The suit partly unravels : another win while losing -- The cities cave in, forget to kick us out -- Evolving a master plan -- 4. On to Wisconsin, the Dairy State -- DDT, goes to trial in Madison, Wisconsin -- Birds die, nests fail -- DDT, thin eggshells, and reduced reproduction in birds -- DDT reduces reproduction in trout and salmon -- Wayland Hayes : "DDT is absolutely safe" -- A toxicologist arrives from Sweden -- The task force for DDT questions the analyses : confusion with PCBs -- Integrated pest management without any DDT -- Summation : DDT is a pollutant in the Wisconsin ecosystem -- To make an omelet, you will break some eggs -- Mid-1969 : where did we stand, what had we accomplished? -- Final verdict from the DDT hearings in Wisconsin -- 5. EDF, barely an organization, getting its act together -- Environmental Defense Fund, or fundless environmental defenders? -- 6. EDF diversifies into new environmental arenas -- The Environmental Decade : the 1970s -- Environmental Defense Fund : biggest bang for the buck -- The judicial approach is contagious -- 7. Time to go after the Feds -- What? DDT also causes cancer? -- What? DDT also causes mutations and birth defects? -- Both Federal agencies react to the petitions -- The Environmental Defense Fund takes two Federal agencies to court -- The Appeals Court makes an historic decision -- The bruising battle of the briefs -- 8. Escalating the DDT issue with more court cases -- Flushing tons of DDT into the Los Angeles sewer system -- What happened to Montrose and its pollution legacy after 1972? -- Bald eagles gone, golden eagles move in -- 9. Changes in Washington affect the DDT battle -- EDF begins to expand : new people, new Washington office -- 10. DDT goes to trial, finally, in Washington, DC -- DDT : global contamination problem -- Predatory birds pay the price -- Mechanism for DDE-induced thin-shelled eggs -- Dangers of DDT to fish and people who eat them -- Superior insect control without DDT -- Does DDT cause cancer? : in mice? rats? humans? -- DDT industry shortage of qualified witnesses -- 11. Ruckelshaus decides -- The Ruckelshaus decision : DDT gets canceled! (almost) -- Both sides appeal the ruling to the Court of Appeals -- Passing the test of time -- They are after us again : 40 years later (why?) -- The use of DDT for controlling malaria -- 12. Encores : five more bad actors were dispatched -- Aldrin and Dieldrin on trial : suspension mid-stream -- Heptachlor/chlordane : another suspension mid-stream -- Mirex will "eradicate" the imported fire ant -- 13. The DDT wars : four great victories -- DDT ban led to greater cancer prevention -- DDT precedents launched environmental law -- Remove the threat and the birds will recover -- EDF today : brilliant, innovative, optimistic, and effective -- Epilogue : the last word / President Fred Krupp