DDT and Malaria

The Economic Analysis of DDT

Malaria affects over 3 million people a year and over 1 million die every year. Most of theses deaths are children under the age of five. Current malaria control methods include bed nets, cleaning mosquito breeding areas near villages, delivering anti-malaria drugs, and the spraying of DDT indoors. DDT is currently the most effective and efficient method for combatting malaria. However, the use of DDT has raised controversy over its adverse affects on human health and the environment.

Use in Africa for Malaria Control

Countries around the world, including the United States, have banned the use of DDT. Only two countries produce DDT, China and India, while more than two dozen countries still use DDT today as an anti-malaria vector.

Economic Costs of Malaria

Health-care costs: medication, testing, and physician time

Vector control costs

Malaria control programme costs

Hindrance to tourism

Mortality costs

Productivity costs

		             Cost (in Rand)	% of Total
Indirect Costs	
        Productivity Costs	5,082,550	41
			
Direct Costs	
        Malaria Tests	         595,167	5
	Evacuation Costs	 2,794,000	22
	Drug Costs	         640,349	5
	Physician/Nurse Time     2,122,577	17
	Hospital Costs	         1,197,737	10 

• Rand is the currency of South Africa. 1 Rand is approximately .0975 USD or similarly 1 USD is approximately 10.25 Rand.

Benefits of DDT usage

DDT house spraying: Inexpensive Highly effective Trained sprayers apply a minimal amount of DDT

Normal amount of DDT used on a cotton field, can protect all high risk residents of a small country from malaria

Bed nets can only protect 1-2 people

USAID has saved over 10 million lives through the funding of DDT use.

Over 1 million people die from malaria every year, most are children under the age of 5

WHO's support for DDT use in Africa

On September 25, 2006 the World Health Organization reversed its 30 year policy and declared its support for the use of DDT indoors in South Africa. In previous years the WHO had been against the use of DDT because of its harmful side effects on the environment and the health of human beings. However, in the context of South Africa, the WHO believes the benefits far outweigh the costs. A physician at the Environment Health Department stated that, “DDT is not the single answer, but it can be a part of the solution until we find a better alternative”.

References

Attaran, Amir, and Rajendra Maharaj. "DDT for Malaria Control should not be banned." British Medical Journal 321 (2000).

Brown, David. "WHO Urges Use of DDT in Africa." Washington Post 16 Sept. 2006: A9.

Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. New York: Houston Mifflin Company, 2002

DDT Regulatory History: A Brief Survey (to 1975). History. 2007. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. <http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/ddt/02.htm>.

Larsen, Kim. “Bad Blood.” On Earth. December, 2007: 3. http://www.onearth.org/article/bad-blood?page=3.

Levy, Sharon. "Mosquito Modifications: New Approaches to Controlling Malaria." BioScience 57 (2007): 816-21.

Liroff, Richard. "Commentary: Reduction and elimination of DDT should proceed slowly."British Medical Journal 321 (2000).

McGinn, Roberts, and Trankina are all from the same book entitled “Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Environmental Issues” Twelfth Edition Ed. Thomas A. Easton. McGraw-Hill Contemporary Learning Studies, 2008.

Pesticides News No.40, June 1998, p18-20 http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Actives/ddt.html.

Silberner, Joanne. “WHO Backs Use of DDT Against Malaria.” NPR, 13 November 2008. www.npr.org.

Szaflarski, Diane. “Effects of DDT.” Cruising Chemistry. http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/pest/effects.html.

Tren, Richard, and Roger Bate. “Malaria and the DDT Story.” The Institute of Economic Affairs, London: 2001.

Tren, Richard. "The Economic Costs of Malaria in South Africa." http://www.malaria.org/tren.html.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “DDT Regulatory History: A Brief Survey (to 1975).” 12 November 2008. http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/ddt/02.htm.

Urquilla, Janelle. “Before and After DDT.” DMJT’s View on DDT. http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/ew/ddt/tracy.html.

Urquilla, Janelle. “DDT’s Effects on the Earth and Humans.” DMJT’s View on DDT. < http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/ew/ddt/janelle.html>.

Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a pesticide that has been banned in the United States, Europe, and many other countries. Currently it is used for an emergency basis in many developing countries, such as Africa and South America, for combatting Malaria. We will be focusing on Sub-saharan Africa and their uses of pesticides, specifically DDT, to battle Malaria. We understand the externality costs on the health of humans and wildlife, but in these extenuating circumstances we support the use of DDT as a lesser of two evils. By analyizing the costs and benefits of using DDT in these third world countries, we have found that the use of DDT has lower monetary costs. The risk of humans contracting Malaria, has higher economic costs that hinder the development of the country. It is common in Sub-Saharan African countries, for the citizens to be more concerned with their conditions rather than factors that could effect their health later in life. However, we hope to also stress the necessity of devloping alternative technology that could become viable in the future to eliminate Malaria .