Uses of ddt

DDT is a synthetic insecticide belonging to a class of chemicals called organochlorides. Also known as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, it is one of the most effective yet controversial synthetic insecticides ever developed. While incredibly effective at controlling mosquitoes, it also has devastating environmental impacts. Today, DDT is banned in much of the world, but it is still used to While initially DDT was an incredibly effective insecticide, its widespread use quickly led to the development of resistance by many insect pest species. Since the introduction of DDT for mosquito control in 1946, DDT resistance at various levels has been reported from more than 50 species of anopheline mosquitoes, including many that spread malaria. After decades of use, evidence of the pesticide's declining benefits and suspected environmental and toxicological effects were becoming causes for concern. Risk to Humans Human exposure to DDT occurs primarily through inhalation after spraying or ingestion from food sources. Once in the body, DDT collects primarily in fat tissue and remains there for quite some time. According to a study on DDT persistence, it would take between 10 and 20 years for DDT to disappear from an individual if exposure would totally cease, but its primary metabolite, DDE, would possibly persist throughout the lifespan of the individual. There is currently no evidence in humans that DDT causes cancer or reproductive problems; however, workers exposed to large con...

Crushed eggs. Dead eagles. Birth defects. The 1960s and ‘70s were a trying time for the American environment, thanks to DDT. The effects of the toxic pesticide became obvious quickly despite agricultural companies’ prolonged attempts to give it a clean bill of health. With the release of Rachel Carson’s 1962 Silent Spring —published in part as New Yorker the same year—news of DDT’s toxic effects spread. As public awareness peaked, the debate caught fire, causing President Kennedy to order a scientific inquiry. What the public didn’t—and still might not—know is that the fight against the chemical wasn’t over even when the horrifying facts came to light. In fact, the battle raged on and victory was only secured a decade later, thanks to the rise of the Environmental Defense Fund, a group of scientists formed explicitly to fight DDT. It's this battle that Charles Wurster, one of the founding members of EDF, explains in his new book, DDT Wars, which came out earlier this month. He leaves no detail uncovered—especially when it comes to describing the complexities of navigating the U.S. legal system—as he outlines the surprising victories that arose from the endeavor. Wurster's story is that of the scrappy underdog triumphing over powerful businessmen and politicians—a timeless struggle that offers lessons and insights still relevant today. A Young Scientist Finds His Way In addition to his role in the EDF, Wurster was a field biologist whose own research was vital in establishi...

If there is a single pesticide almost everyone can name, it’s DDT. DDT was one of the first chemicals in widespread use as a pesticide. Following World War II, it was promoted as a wonder-chemical, the simple solution to pest problems large and small. Today, nearly 40 years after DDT was banned in the U.S., we continue to live with its long-lasting effects: • Food supplies: USDA found • Body burden: DDT breakdown products were found in the blood of 99% of the people • Health impacts: Girls exposed to DDT before puberty are 5 times more likely to develop breast cancer in middle age, according to the Banned for agricultural uses worldwide by the 2001 Rachel Carson highlighted the dangers of DDT in her groundbreaking 1962 book Silent Spring. Carson used DDT to tell the broader story of the disastrous consequences of the overuse of insecticides, and raised enough concern from her testimony before Congress to trigger the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Her work attracted outrage from the pesticide industry and others. Her credibility as a scientist was attacked, and she was derided as “hysterical,” despite her fact-based assertions and calm and scholarly demeanor. Following the hearings, President Kennedy convened a committee to review the evidence Carson presented. The committee’s review completely vindicating her findings. One of the new EPA’s first acts was to ban DDT, due to both concerns about harm to the environment and the potential for harm t...

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118722940723299229 Last year, the World Health Organization reversed a 25-year-old policy and recommended using the pesticide DDT to fight malaria in the Third World. A new study published in the public health journal, PLoS ONE, provides more evidence that the decision was long overdue. Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.

DDT, DDT is one of the most controversial chemical compounds in recent history. While it is effective as an insecticide, its potent toxicity isn’t limited to insects. The use of DDT is banned in many countries, like the U.S., but it is still used (legally or illegally) in some places. DDT can’t be dissolved in water, but it is easily dissolved in organic solvents, fats, or oils. Since it can dissolve in fats, DDT can build up in the fatty tissues of animals exposed to it. This accumulated build-up is known as bioaccumulation, and DDT is described by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a persistent, bioaccumulative toxin. Due to this bioaccumulation, DDT remains in the food chain. It moves from crayfish, frogs, and fish into the bodies of animals that eat them. The bodies of animals near the top of the food chain, such as predatory birds like eagles, hawks, pelicans, condors and other meat-eating birds, often have the highest DDT levels. • Clofenotane • Chlorophenothane • p,p’-DDT • dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane • 4,4′-DDT • Zerdane • Arkotine • Benzochloryl • Bovidermol • Estonate • Guesarol • Santobane • Agritan • Anofex List of known side effects Exposure to • Hypersensitive to stimulation, a sensation of prickling, tingling or creeping on skin. • Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incoordination, tremor, mental confusion, hyperexcitable state. • In severe cases: convulsions, seizures, coma and respiratory depression. DDT is highly toxic, and it may be fat...