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- 26 - the use of chemicals in the foreseeable future. Hence, some of the pesticidal chemicals are likely to have a place in pest control for many years to come. Lack of wide-scale adoption of nonchemical control procedures is not the result of any lack of attention devoted to them. They have been under study for many years, and, in recent years, public agencies have com- mitted increasing percentages of their research budgets to the development of nonchemical control. In the same period, financial support for improved chemical control has not kept pace. Paradoxically, resources for studying pesticidal chemicals have decreased in a period in which their use has increased. The Committee believes that the research effort on pesticidal chemicals should be increased and that the present effort on nonchemical methods of pest control should be maintained. A balanced research program should include substantial investments in the search for better nonchemical methods of control, similar commitments for research on new pesticides and improved application of old and new pesticides, and continued study of integrated approaches that include both chemical and nonchemical methods. An integrated approach provides an opportunity for introducing, on a cost-competitive basis, small amounts of new, less persistent materials to replace the low-cost persistent pesticides now in use. Although environmental contamination can be reduced by substituting a nonpersistent pesticide for a persistent one, this substitution can lead to other problems. Certain nonpersistent pesticidal chemicals are much more hazardous to apply than the chemicals they replace. Others tend to cause immediate injury to pollinating insects or to other animal species of interest to man. Such potential hazards and side effects should be evaluated thoroughly before substitutions are made. Expanded research on pesticidal chemicals will help in identifying the best one for a given pest-control problem as well as the best method of using it in each situation, thereby providing opportunities for reducing the dissemi- nation of persistent pesticides. To be fully successful, expanded research on pesticides must be accompanied by effective action in three areas: registration of labels,
- 27 - state and federal recommendations, and education. educational effort should be directed to insuring pesticides are used with minimum contamination of environment. CONCLUSIONS ~e that the 1. Persistent pesticides are contributing to the health, food supply, and comfort of mankind, but, in the absence of adequate information on their behavior in nature, prudence dictates that such long-lived chemicals should not be needlessly released into the biosphere. 2. Although persistent pesticides have been replaced in some uses and are replaceable in others, they are at present essential in certain situations. 3. No decrease in the use of pesticides is expected in the foreseeable future. On a world basis, increased use is probable. 4. Although the use of DDT has decreased substan- tially, there was no important change in the use of other organochlorine insecticides in the United States during the 10-year period ending June 30, 1967. 5. Available evidence does not indicate that present levels of pesticide residues in man's food and environment produce an adverse effect on his health. 6. Registration requirements for persistent pesti- cides appear to provide adequate safeguards for human health, but continuing attention must be given to accom- modating new knowledge and insuring against subtle long-term effects. 7. Residues of certain persistent pesticides in the environment have an adverse effect on some species of wild animals and threaten the existence of others.
