CSRCSR(Ethical Dilemma applied in (Ethical Dilemma applied in

Pesticide DDT)Pesticide DDT)

Brief HistoryBrief History• Paul Muller (1939), J.R Geigy

Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) to devastate flies earn 1948 Nobel Prize• Department of Agriculture DDT is

the most effective to protect U.S Army soldiers from insect-borne disease (typhus, malaria, and other diseases)• Farmers and homeowners DDT to

protect crops kill nuisance insects and pests that spread disease• Countries DDT to protect their

populations

Production and Effect of Production and Effect of DDTDDTMontrose Chemical Corporation one of the largest company in DDT production

1962, Rachel Carson Silent Spring Book Mass use of DDT and the death of birds and fish

DDT direct toxic to fish and indirect toxic to birds destructing food chain

DDT might causes cancer

DDT BannedDDT BannedEnvironmental Protection Agency

(EPA) banned DDT usage in the U.S at the end of 1972 but still produced and exported DDT to Africa, India, other countries until 1982

Since 1970-1986 DDT was continually banned in other countries

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions1. Did the Montrose Chemical Corporation

violate any ethical standards in manufacturing selling DDT to the public?

2. What should they have done differently?3. Was it ethical to manufacture and sell DDT

to other countries after the EPA banned its used in the U.S due to its harmful effect?

4. Did the EPA make the right decision when it banned DDT?

5. Should Mueller's Nobel Prize be taken away now that DDT has been found to be harmful?

6. Is the ability to save lives worth the risk to the environment?

Our OpinionsOur Opinions1. Yes, the Montrose Chemical Corporation

violate the ethical standard because they are selling the mass use of DDT which effecting environmental risk (toxic to birds and fish)

2. Montrose Chemical Corporation should have controlled the sales of DDT production. They should have applied Ethical CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), such as :

◦ Socializing a training on how to use DDT in appropriate way to the farmers and homeowners

◦ Create and Develop fish farm to increase fish population for maintaining the balance of food chain

◦ Fund the institutional or organizational research :

To find a method and appropriate medicine to protect life creature and environment from DDT bad effect.

As DDT is assumed a PERSISTENCE chemical compounds and NOT easy degraded physically or biologically to be simpler compounds, so chemist researchers are expected to manipulate DDT molecule to develop an effective insecticide that is more friendly to environment The new compounds should be more easily degraded and much less persistence [http://abrar4lesson4tutorial4ever.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/].

Researchers are also expected to research alternative way to control the mosquitoes' population instead of DDT, sort of hormonal compounds can be used to affect death to the mosquitoes, so it will reduce the population, then malaria disease will decrease as well [http://abrar4lesson4tutorial4ever.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/].

3. It wasn’t ethical, because even though it’s not banned in another country but the side effect of DDT is already known. They still ignoring the side effect to environment and health issue in other countries.

4. Yes, because DDT has been proven harmful to the environment and EPA has the obligations to protect the environment in the U.S5. No, because he had a good will to protect human life from insect-borne disease regardless of the bad impact in the mass use Of DDT to the environment6. No, because saving lives is as important as saving the environment by minimizing the bad effect to create the balance life of human environment