Which is a fact about DDT?

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s. It was initially used with great effect to combat malaria, typhus, and the other insect-borne human diseases among both military and civilian populations.

What are 3 uses of DDT?

DDT was used to control malaria, typhus, body lice, and bubonic plague. DDT was a key element of malaria eradication in Italy and the United States. It was used to manage an epidemic of typhus in Italy and Germany during 1943-44 (1, 2).

Is DDT still a problem today?

DDT is still used today in South America, Africa, and Asia for this purpose. Farmers used DDT on a variety of food crops in the United States and worldwide. DDT was also used in buildings for pest control.

How much DDT used a year?

Production and use From 1950 to 1980, DDT was extensively used in agriculture – more than 40,000 tonnes each year worldwide – and it has been estimated that a total of 1.8 million tonnes have been produced globally since the 1940s.

What does DDT do in water?

In surface water, DDT will bind to particles in the water, settle, and be deposited in the sediment. DDT is taken up by small organisms and fish in the water. It accumulates to high levels in fish and marine mammals (such as seals and whales), reaching levels many thousands of times higher than in water.

How long does DDT last in environment?

2–15 years
DDT lasts a very long time in soil. Half the DDT in soil will break down in 2–15 years. Some DDT will evaporate from soil and surface water into the air, and some is broken down by sunlight or by microscopic plants or animals in soil or surface water. DDT in soil usually breaks down to form DDE or DDD.

What does DDT do to animals?

DDT affects the central nervous system of insects and other animals. This results in hyperactivity, paralysis and death. DDT also affects eggshell production in birds and the endocrine system of most animals.

How did DDT affect animals?

DDT affects the central nervous system of insects and other animals. This results in hyperactivity, paralysis and death. DDT also affects eggshell production in birds and the endocrine system of most animals. DDT has a very high tenancy towards biomagnification.

What is DDT used for today?

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an insecticide used in agriculture. The United States banned the use of DDT in 1972. Some countries outside the United States still use DDT to control of mosquitoes that spread malaria.

How long did DDT take to ban?

While many reasons exist as to why it took ten years to ban DDT after the publication of Silent Spring, the insecticide’s effectiveness in fighting malaria, public ignorance over the side effects of DDT before scientific research revealed the ill effects of DDT on wildlife, and the creation of the US Environmental …