The History of DDT
DDT was created in 1874 by an Austrian chemist named Othmar Zeidler.[i] DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is an organochlorine insecticide that has had a very impressive history. In 1939 it was discovered that DDT had very effective insecticidal properties by Paul Hellermann Müller. DDT was used to rid the second world war of its Malaria and Typhoid epidemic. It was used in such great quantities that it made some insects immune to the effects of DDT thanks to natural selection. As 1945 DDT was widely used in the agricultural market to prevent pests from attacking crops. 30 years prior to it being banned, a total of approximately 1, 350, 000, 000 pounds of DDT was produced.[ii]
A DDT ban was put into effect as of 1972 in the United States. The ban was put in place because of its effects on wildlife and human health. Research had shown that the use of DDT in the agricultural market had led to health issues in humans.[iii] The reason for its ban is due to it being genotoxic and xenoestrogenic. This meant that DDT could be recognized as estrogen in the animal’s body causing disruptions in the hormonal cycle.[iv] Scientists had discovered this when they introduced DDT into rat’s diets and noticed behavioral changes. Behavioral changes meant that DDT affected the endocrine system in animals. Endocrine disruptions have been shown to cause cancerous tumors, birth defects and developmental disorder. [v]Once this information had been given out to the public, multiple countries began to ban the chemical including the United States. [vi]
A DDT ban was put into effect as of 1972 in the United States. The ban was put in place because of its effects on wildlife and human health. Research had shown that the use of DDT in the agricultural market had led to health issues in humans.[iii] The reason for its ban is due to it being genotoxic and xenoestrogenic. This meant that DDT could be recognized as estrogen in the animal’s body causing disruptions in the hormonal cycle.[iv] Scientists had discovered this when they introduced DDT into rat’s diets and noticed behavioral changes. Behavioral changes meant that DDT affected the endocrine system in animals. Endocrine disruptions have been shown to cause cancerous tumors, birth defects and developmental disorder. [v]Once this information had been given out to the public, multiple countries began to ban the chemical including the United States. [vi]
WORK CITED
The History of DDT
[i] “Othmar Zeidler” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othmar_Zeidler
(Accessed February 8th, 2013)
[ii] “History of DDT”, US Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/history/topics/ddt/02.html (Accessed February 8th, 2013)
[iii] “History of DDT”, US Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/history/topics/ddt/02.html (Accessed February 8th, 2013)
[iv] “ Its effects on humans”, Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT#Developmental_toxicity (Accessed on February 8th, 2013)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT#Developmental_toxicity (Accessed on February 8th, 2013)
[vi] “History of DDT”, US Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/history/topics/ddt/02.html (Accessed February 8th, 2013)
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