Syntetiske pesticider og Cheminova 1943-1954 – offentlig regulering af giftproduktion og miljøforurening i historisk perspektiv

Resumé

De syntetiske pesticider kom til Danmark i 1940’erne, hvor landmænd og gartnere fik nye forunderlige midler i hænderne. Ukrudt og skadedyr kunne sprøjtes væk. Historier om de nye kemiske super-agenter rygtedes hurtigt. Alle landmænd og gartnere hørte om de ventende fremskridt; ingen kendte de negative konsekvenser – som f.eks. en truende generationsforurening af vores drikkevand.

Artiklen viser det danske marked, hvor pesticiderne ofte introduceredes af internationale giganter. Samtidig fortælles om en dansk produktion beskrevet ud fra firmaet Cheminova. Statens plantepatologiske Forsøg testede nye stoffer efterfulgt af konsulenttjenester for at øge stoffernes anvendelse. Analyse af de nye kemiske stoffer var et tilbagevendende problem med den stadigt innovative kemiske industri. Først i 1954 kom en vis offentlig kontrol. De første hektiske år var også forbi, og det blev nu stoffernes storhedstid, hvor dansk landbrug for alvor kunne vise marker uden ukrudt og levere æbler uden skurv. Den offentlige administration stod svagt over for landbrugets økonomiske interesser. Små sognekommuner stod over for store forurenende virksomheder med landets bedste jurister. Den spinkle offentlige centraladministration havde få midler til at imødegå de ulykker, vi kender i dag. Først da fiskerne ved Roskilde Fjord truedes af forurening, stoppede myndighederne Cheminovas fabrik i Måløv.

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Synthetic pesticides and Cheminova 1943-1954: Public regulation and environmental pollution in historical perspective.

With the German chemical industry at the forefront, knowledge of new synthetic pesticides developed from the late 1930s. Already during World War II, DDT was able to exterminate flies in stables, and a few years later the very effective parathion (bladan) was introduced. Stories of the new chemical super-agents were quickly rumored. All farmers and gardeners were quickly informed of the great pending progress; no one yet knew what negative sides the new funds also possessed.

The article shows the development of the Danish market for pesticides thanks to international giants. At the same time, a Danish production arose at companies with Cheminova as an example. The State Plant Pathology Experiments tested new agents, often followed by consulting services for increased use. Analysis of the new chemical substances became a recurring problem with the ever-innovative chemical industry and a slow-working state bureaucracy. The legislation sought to keep up. In 1954 tightened conditions for the Danish market. With this, the first hectic year of synthetic drugs was over, and ready for the heyday of drugs, where Danish agriculture could seriously show fields without weeds and deliver apples without scab.