what is ddt

DDT, or Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound that is an organochloride. It was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s and was initially used with great effect to combat malaria, typhus, and other insect-borne human diseases among both military and civilian populations. DDT was also effective for insect control in crop and livestock production, institutions, homes, and gardens. However, DDT is a persistent organic pollutant that is readily adsorbed to soils and sediments, which can act both as sinks and as long-term sources of exposure affecting organisms. Depending on environmental conditions, its soil half-life can range from 22 days to 30 years. DDT exposure can occur by eating, breathing, or touching products contaminated with DDT, and it can convert into DDE, which can persist in the body and the environment. DDT is known to be very persistent in the environment, will accumulate in fatty tissues, and can travel long distances in the upper atmosphere. The use of DDT was discontinued in the United States in 1972 due to its health and environmental effects.