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When the DDT restrictions were imposed. there were those who questioned whether or not the restrictions were premature. They felt that the chemical's insect controlling properâ€" ties, which enabled farmers to produce more food per acre, had been an enormous benefit to mankind. An editorial in the Los Angeles Times pointed out that, according to Dr. Robâ€" ert White Stevens. Professor of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers. “DDT is probably one of the most useful and contributory chemicals to man that has ever been invented. It has led the way to relief in a world where twoâ€"thirds con- tinually dwell on the brink of starvation." On the other hand, the dangers of DDT. could have had far-reaching results. Recently, it has been reported that Canadian researchers have found DDT in Arctic seals. It is thought that northern rivers have washed the insecti~ cide into the Arctic Ocean where it is being passed on to the seals through the food cycle. Studies on the effects of DDT, as well as other chemicals such as mercury, are continu- ing at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Recently, both the Fed- eral and Provincial governments have demand- ed that certain industries cease dumping waste products with a high mercury content into the water systems. Pesticides, one of the products of our twenâ€" tieth century technology, have become a very important and necessary part of our life style. The use of pesticides ranges far beyond the control of insect and disease in pasture re- gions, forests and home gardens. We use them to produce, store and process our food; to pro- tect man and his animals against diseaseâ€"carryâ€" ing insects; and to treat imported food and fi- ber to destroy undesirable species of foreign pests. Pesticides are also present in some mothâ€"proofing agents, paints, and swimming pool chemicals. The misuse of pest and weed control chemi- cals has a detrimental effect on more than the soil. They can also cause air pollution, damage to neighboring crops and other desirable vege- tation. In some cases crops, such as tomatoes, cannot be grown because of the drift of herbi- cide vapors during treatment of neighboring crops for weed control. The use of nitrogen fertilizer, in exceSSive quantities, has been included in the list of things contributing to the pollution of ponds, small lakes and streams. Back in 1942, when nitrogen fertilizer was first used extensively, it was never considered a pollutant. At that time, farmers in the United States used less than 500,000 tons. But, this quantity has increased. until by 1967, they were applying more than 6 million tons of US. soil. SUMMER 1970 Mr. Everett Biggs, Deputy Minister, Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food. The excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer â€" and I want to stress the word "excessive" which means amounts exceeding crop needs - can lead to the presence of nitrate in a number of things ranging from drinking water to baby food. The presence of nitrate in baby food is serious because the baby‘s system readily con- verts it to nitrite, which hampers the passage of oxygen in the blood and results in labored breathing, Thanks to the constant testing of products on today‘s market, we are able to locate and eliminate any substances considered dangerous to a person's health. The Ontario Department of Agriculture and Foods concern about the improper use of in- secticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, initiated a full-scale program to check Ontarâ€" io‘s milk and other food supplies for pesticide residues. All testing is done at the Provincial Pesticide Residue Laboratory in Guelph. In addition to this program, the Department has established a pesticide committee. This sci- entific advisory committee deals with all mat- ters relating to the use of pesticides for the Department, as well as working for the Inter- departmental Sub-Committee on Pesticides, Herbicides and Fertilizers. 21.