DDT is Harmful to Health and Environment

       DDT is Harmful to Health and Environment

Researched by Dr Abe V Rotor

   

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT (Formula: C14H9Cl5), is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound, an organochloride. Originally developed as an insecticide, it became infamous for its environmental impacts. DDT was first synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler.  Exposure to DDT did not end when the chemical was banned in the United States almost 40 years ago. The chemical does not easily break down and is known by scientists to accumulate in the tissues of animals. In recent years, the Food and Drug Administration has found DDT residues in food samples.

EFFECTS OF DDT ON ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

Thieu Thi Thuy Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Duc University, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Email: truclinhduong@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study aims to discuss the source of DDT in the environment and critical review impacts of this insecticide in the environment and human health. Current monitoring and pollution prevention strategy for DDT also be assessed in a certain extent of the article. The methodology is based on review of literature and information from journals, published documents and the Internet. The study found that DDT has great deal of negative impacts on the environment and human health. Moreover, although DDT was not popular used in recent time, it still impacts on environment and human health due to long residual efficacy and accumulation through food chain. This was disseminated widely to warn population because there are still lots of countries manufacture and use DDT for many purposes, especially developing countries.

Key words: DDT, environment, human health, impact.