DDT is an organochlorine insecticide that was first synthesized in 1874
DDT was a commonly-used pesticide for insect control in the United States until it was canceled in 1972 by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- DDT was initially used by the military in WW II to control malaria, typhus, body lice, and bubonic plague
- DDT was used in buildings for pest control. The reason why DDT was so widely used was because it is effective, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and lasts a long time in the environment
- Farmers used DDT on a variety of food crops in the United States and worldwide. DDT was also used in buildings for
pest control.
- The reason why DDT was so widely used was because it is effective, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and lasts a long time in the environment.
DDT was canceled because it persists in the environment, accumulates in fatty tissues, and can cause adverse health effects on wildlife. In addition, resistance occurs in some insects (like the house fly) who develop the ability to
quickly metabolize the DDT .