In New York city alone, the number of reported bedbug infestations in rental housing units rose more then 240% from 2006-2009. Bedbugs have become one of the worst health & pest problems in the last hundred years, causing physical and emotional damage to those affected. Every major city in the US has seen a significate rise in infestation rates and a continuing problem that seems to have no foreseeable end given current methods to combat this epidemic.
Several main causes have contributed to the significant rise in bedbug populations, beginning with the ban of DDT pesticides in 1972 (which so far has proven to be the only 100% effective means of extermination) Previous use of DDT as a pesticide against bedbugs had nearly completely wiped out bedbug populations, after its ban populations began to rise once again (whether from surviving bedbugs in the US, or imigration of tropical speices of bedbugs via hitch-hiking with foreign travelers).
In the last 10 years populations of bedbugs have grown so large many US cities have petitioned the Federal government to allow the use of DDT to exterminate the species once and for all.
In a report commisioned by the city of New York in 2009, the main factors of the spread of infestation are as follows:
lack of public awareness and knowledge
the density of multi-unit buildings and living spaces
inadequate access to and unaffordability of quality pest control services and resources
varying standards of preperation and treatment
the current limitations of the materials and methods for bed bug control
a lack of efficent procedures to resolve landlord/tenant disputes in an equitable way.
From an etemological point of view, bedbugs are one of the most efficent and well 'designed' animals on the planet.
Intelligent, adaptable, and tenatious, Bed Bugs are a resilent and hardy pest, they are:
able to live for up to one year without feeding
are able to hibernate for even longer periods of time
capable of production 500 eggs per years
are small, slim and physically tough, able to hide easily and avoid exterimation or notice
adapt or overcome most pesticides within a few surviving generations
Current market analysis shows a variety of do it your self extermination methods, as well as professional services. On average a professional exterminator may cost anywhere between 600-20,000 dollars, while DIY methods range from 20-500 dollars on average. Current DIY methods involve both aggressive and passive techniques, from mattress protectors to pesticide sprays.
Many major universities such as Cornell and Ohio State currently have entire chemistry and biology departments devoted to the bedbug epidemic. Little research has been done from a design perspective to combat the Bed Bug problem. This is where my thesis is focused to approach the Bed Bug infestion issue from a product designers point of view.
Major stakeholders involved in the Bed Bug issue are cities and government agencies; owners and landlords; renters; business and retail (several large stores have recent had to shut down for a period of time in NYC due to infestions); travel hubs and means; hotels and public housing; universites and dorms; private citizens.
A few of the main areas I am focusing on at this point are:
To create an effective and low cost methods to combat bed bugs (a significate amount of reported infestations have occured in low income housing areas, where though reported, tenants are not able to afford pest control and continue to live with an active infestation; there by enabling the spread of bedbugs)
To design a more effective means of awarness and knowledge (many who are infested do not know they are, or do not report it out of embarresment or lack of resources to contact)
To look at the large picture in relation to design (product design, business management, social services, etc)
Zane Murray
Zane,
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting that bed bugs were basically eradicated with DDT, but that is now banned, so the bugs are back. As I like to say, we should be designing for about five years into the future. It appears that DDT has gotten a bum rap, mostly because of the book Silent Spring, from 1962. But, lots of subsequent research has cast doubt on the actual hazardousness of DDT. Take a look at this NPR piece. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6083944)
They say that the World Health Organization is endorsing use of DDT to fight malaria. As with bed bugs, DDT is the only thing that works, but it is unavailable because Western aid organizations won't permit them to use it. Millions of people die from malaria every year, so it is very important to find something that works. Apparently, the answer is DDT. If that's the case, then it is possible that the ban will have to be lifted, and there may be some product design opportunities coming along. The key would have to be to find a way to convince people that it is not poison, in fact it can save lives. I know this is radical. Of course, such a project would raise eyebrows at the new school, but it might be fun and lead to some interesting discussions.
steven