When was DDT first discovered?
DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), for many years one of the most widely used pesticidal chemicals in the United States, was first synthesized in 1874. Its effectiveness as an insecticide, however, was only discovered in 1939.
Why did they spray kids with DDT?
DDT was sprayed in large amounts from the 1940s onwards, to kill disease-carrying mosquitoes.
What is the story of 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.
Which country invented DDT?
DDT was first synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler. DDT’s insecticidal action was discovered by the Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller in 1939….DDT.
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.99 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 108.5 °C (227.3 °F; 381.6 K) |
| Boiling point | 260 °C (500 °F; 533 K) (decomposes) |
| Solubility in water | 25 μg/L (25 °C) |
Where was DDT first used?
DDT was initially used by the military in WW II to control malaria, typhus, body lice, and bubonic plague (1). Cases of malaria fell from 400,000 in 1946 to virtually none in 1950 (3). DDT is still used today in South America, Africa, and Asia for this purpose.
What causes DDT in humans?
Human health effects from DDT at low environmental doses are unknown. Following exposure to high doses, human symptoms can include vomiting, tremors or shakiness, and seizures. Laboratory animal studies showed effects on the liver and reproduction. DDT is considered a possible human carcinogen.
Which countries have banned DDT?
The countries that have banned DDT include Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia,Cyprus, Ethiopia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Lebanon, Mozambique, Norway, Switzerland, and the USA.