DDT Full Form Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane

DDT is a complex yet important chemical in health and the environment. This pesticide, organochlorine's primary element, became well-known for exterminating harmful pests.

More About DDT

• It was first made in 1874, but its bug-destroying abilities were unknown until 1939. Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller found these qualities. He got the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1948 for this achievement.
• Between the 1940s and 1960s, DDT was widely used all over the world. It was used in farming and public health initiatives.
• It drastically reduced malaria rates by killing mosquitoes.
• In World War II it protected troops and civilians from vector-borne diseases.
• It also increased crop yields by eliminating pests.
• Beyond malaria, DDT helped control other diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, and sleeping sickness.
• By reducing disease burden and improving agricultural output, DDT contributed significantly to economic development in several countries.
• DDT builds up in nature and creatures, leading to health and ecosystem problems.
• In 1972, the US stopped DDT. Lots of nations followed suit. Some still use it, but only to stop diseases.
• Despite its ban, DDT's breakdown products are still found in the environment today, indicating its lasting presence and impact.
• The discussions around DDT usage reveal a tricky balance. It's about health needs and keeping our environment safe.
• People noticing how DDT hurt wildlife, especially birds, gave conservation biology a boost. It made us focus more on saving endangered species.
• DDT's endurance in the environment teaches us about chemical pollutants. It helps shape rules on how we handle and use chemicals.
• Scientists keep studying DDT and what it breaks down into. This helps us know how to manage chemicals now and later.