Free Essay

Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (Ddt)

In: Science

Submitted By Leito
Words 1234
Pages 5
Leo Ramirez
March 10, 2013
Chemistry 105
DDT
Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) is a man-made molecule, synthetized in 1874 but its properties were not discovered until 1939. Its properties were discovered just in time to be used in the second half of World War II. Paul Hermann Müller was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine for this discover. After World War II, it was used as an insecticide.
DDT is a mixture of related compounds and the major compound is p, p’isomer. Dichlorodiphenyldichoroethylene (DDE) and Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) make up the balance and they are also the major metabolites and breakdown products in the environment.
In 1962, an American biologist, Rachel Carson, wrote a book that talked about the environmental impacts of DDT for its indiscriminate use in the USA. This led to DDT being banned in the USA in 1972. After being banned in the USA, it was also banned worldwide for agricultural use. The impact was not only to the environment but to humans also. Although there are not many arguments or studies of the impacts on humans, some of the existing studies have found some diseases including reduced fertility, genital birth defects, breast cancer, diabetes, damage to developing brains, chronic liver damage, chronic hepatitis, immune suppression, and cytogenic effects. DDE can block male hormones. In South Africa, it has been used for about 60 years and is still being used to control malaria and it has caused damage in babies because of contaminated milk. "Unfortunately the smallest children are exposed to the highest DDT levels; they are also extra sensitive to chemical influence," Kylin says (ScienceDaily 2012).

DDT is a man-made chemical; it is an organochlorine insecticide. Its physical properties make DDT a unique molecule. The picture shows its structural formula. The molecular formula contains 14 carbons, 9 hydrogen’s and 5 chlorines (C14H9Cl5). Its color is white, it is a crystalline solid, it has no taste and is almost odorless. DDT is insoluble in water but soluble in fats and oils. Its boiling point is 185°C and it has a density of 1.016 kg/L at 20°C.
In War World II, DDT was used to control Malaria and Typhus that attacked not only soldiers but civilians. The way they did it was through spray.
It was a very common chemical after War World II. It was spread worldwide and was being used in agricultural activities as an insecticide. It was also used to kill any kind of bacteria or disinfectant. DDT is still used in South America, Africa, and Asia for the same purpose. In the United States, it is still manufactured but is sold to or used only by foreign countries. According to studies, 1.8 million tons have been produced all around the world. In the US, 600,000 tons were used before the 1972 ban (Wikipedia). Since its discovery, it has been the ideal chemical agent because of its effectiveness killing any type of insect. Some researchers working in Africa say that they have found a replacement for DDT. Its name is microencapsulated chlorpyrifos-methyl (CS) and it is just as effective as DDT.
Other chemicals like methoxychlor have been used after DDT but they have not been as effective as DDT. Also chemicals like Borax Powder and boric acid are being used but still not as effective as DDT.
There has been a controversy among scientists for its use. They have been questioning whether it is worse than malaria. DDT is very soluble in fat, which means it is easy to get into the human body and cause health problems like previously mentioned. It can be very helpful in an epidemic emergency but can also be very dangerous if used indiscriminate. Malaria remains as a public health problem in many countries. In 2008, there were approximately 243 million cases and 863,000 deaths. Most of these deaths occurred in Africa; it killed mostly children less than 5 years of age. In humans, the half- life of DDT is 6 to 10 years and during this time, it can cause enormous damages to the body. A test conducted in 2008 in the United States by Center for Disease Control, showed that DDT was present in all blood samples. After its indiscriminate use, if left disastrous impacts on the environment. Since it is soluble in fats and oils, it also finds its way to get into any type of living organism and the most affected of all of these is the one on top of the food chain (human). In 2007, at least 3,950 tons of DDT was sprayed for mosquito control in Africa and Asia, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (Marla Cone 2009).
Depending on the half-life of soil and conditions, DDT ranges from 22 days to 30 years. Due to its hydrophobic properties, it is absorbed by aquatic organisms, leaving little DDT absorbed in water.
DDT is also lipophilic. Therefore, it can accumulate in fats and oils; accumulation occurs mostly in body fat. The most affected are birds. DDT and DDE make the birds’ eggs thin by making them break, killing the embryo. Studies show that predator birds are more affected than other animals in the same environment (Wikipedia). It was the cause of the decline of the Bald Eagle in the United States. After it was banned, the Bald Eagle came back In conclusion, DDT has properties that make it unique compared to the rest of the chemical compounds. These properties make it a very dangerous compound to both humans and the environment. There is concern among people who know what DDT is and how it affects nature and the human health. It can be also be a good tool to use in case of an epidemic attack but should be restricted to only those that know how to use it properly without putting human life at risk. Since DDT is lipophilic, it is easy to get into body fat and stay there for years and cause fatal diseases. It should be kept away from living organisms if its use is needed. Living organisms have oil and fat that can absorb DDT, for instance plants. It gets to the roots and is spread to its fruit, which will be eaten later either by humans or animals. We cannot blame anybody for inappropriate use in the past. There was a need and people had to make a choice between letting their family die or use DDT to kill the problem. Now we have a more advanced science that can use other methods to solve these types of situations. I chose this molecule because it is related to my field of study (environmental science) and because I wanted to be aware of the damages it causes on the environment and humans. I also chose DDT because it was suggested by my professor, Dr. Sherpa.

Works Cited ScienceDaily. March 8, 2013, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120903142949.htm Wikipedia, March 5, 2013, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT. Marla Cone and Environmental Health News, March 8, 2013, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ddt-use-to-combat-malaria. Dr. Nida Besbelli, Poison Center, March 8, 2013, 206203. http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pim127.htm. Hank Lacey, March 10, 2013, http://www.examiner.com/article/researchers-say-they-ve- found-a-ddt-replacement.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Ddt and Its Affects on Peregrine Falcons

...Brian Jones Melanie Raite Biology 1103 November 3, 2012 DDT and Its Effects on Peregrine Falcons The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), or Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized raptor weighing 2 to 2 ½ pounds. These remarkable birds of prey measure 15-21 inches and have a wingspan of about 3 ½ feet. Their name, Peregrine, comes from the Latin word peregrinus, which means “to wander”. The name fits, given that they have one of the longest migrations in North America and are found on every continent besides Antarctica. Peregrine Falcons hunt pigeons, crows, waterfowl, starlings, jays, and other small to medium sized birds. They are also known to hunt for bats and other small mammals (Defenders of Wildlife). They are best known for their spectacular hunting methods in which they catch their prey mid-air. If that is not impressive enough, they do it while plunging at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, killing or stunning its prey instantly (National Geographic). What is even more impressive than any of this is the fact that the Peregrine Falcon was on the verge of extinction and has made a remarkable comeback. The cause of their brush with extinction was the result of the use of organochlorine pesticides, mainly dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) (The Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group). DDT was first synthesized in 1874. However, its effectiveness as an insecticide was not discovered until 1939. This discovery was made by Dr. Paul Herman Müller of Switzerland. Müller...

Words: 1868 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane

...Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, better known as DDT, is a chemical that became the first modern synthetic insecticide. Initially DDT was a means to fight against the spread of malaria, typhus, and other insect borne diseases that threatened individuals. However, it soon spread to become a way to control insects in crop and livestock production, and homes. This universal solution to insects however, proved to be not as perfect as many thought. Evidence began to emerge that the chemical posed not only harm upon the environment and the wildlife, but also potential human health risks; this prompting the EPA to ban its use in the United States. Some of the risks range from reproductive effects to carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects (“DDT -...

Words: 1496 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Essay On Endangered Species

...Environmental pollution we see on a daily basis are direct results of human actions. There are multiple forms of contamination that can be observed in the ecosystem. City skies are covered in smog, water bodies are full of toxic chemicals from industrial areas and nutrients from farms. All of these pollutants poison the soil, water ways and kill animals and plants. The use of pesticides and fertilizers by farmers has caused serious environmental consequences. The famous example is the use of Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) pesticide in the United States during World War II for controlling mosquitoes that carry diseases such as typhus and malaria. As DDT was sprayed on agricultural crops, it entered the water cycle through surface-water runoff to rivers and lakes. DDT then entered the bald eagle food chain through aquatic producers, which were then eaten by fish, which are the main food source for bald eagles. Through bio-magnification process, there was an increase in concentration of DDT consumed by the bald eagle, it affected the hardness of the shells surrounding the eggs they laid, and this resulted in the female eagles crushing the shells when they sat on them (Glassman & Sterling, 2012). 2. Efforts to protect endangered species 2.1.Establishment of protected areas As habitat loss is seen as the greatest threat to endangered species, terrestrial protected areas are established so that the land cannot be used for agricultural purposes and for urban land conversion (Balmford...

Words: 1391 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Aloe Bioefficacy

...This chapter focuses on the method of controlling juvenile mosquitoes while in life stages (larvae & pupae) which only occur in water. To safely alter our aquatic environments, even temporarily, for the purpose of controlling mosquitoes, requires a good working knowledge of both the target species and larvicides, which include commercial pesticides and natural predators. Products and techniques currently used in Florida are discussed in detail, and the benefits and risks of each are considered. Commercial pesticide information includes summaries and information provided by manufacturers. Minor differences between various formulations of the same or similar active ingredients are detailed so that the competency of each product may be compared. The old days of smothering everything with one pesticide such as waste oil are gone, and mosquito control is rapidly approaching an age of prescription applications where a competent operator will apply one or a combination of larvicides in an environmentally friendly manner under a given set of conditions. Commercial pesticide sections summarize data found in manufacturers’ current product literature and labels. Two of many additional sources of information on mosquito larvicides are: • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/PESTICIDES/HEALTH/MOSQUITOES/LARVICIDES4MOSQUITOES.HTM • Alameda County, California Mosquito Control HTTP://WWW.MOSQUITOES.ORG/BIORAT.HTML The University of Florida published a handbook (Dean...

Words: 3745 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Chemical Bed Nets

...Impact of Bed Nets on the Incidence of Malaria in Lumi, West Sepik Province Divine Word University Faculty of Health Sciences, Health Extension Department, MADANG By Gideon Waiya Jzeckesonni Resident Health Extension Officer A COMMUNITY DIAGNOSED RESEARCH PROJECT A PROSPECTIVE STUDY MARCH 2008 FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EXTENSION DIVINE WORD UNIVERSITY Page | 3 Contents Title Page… ………………………………………………………………………………...........……….3 Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………………………...4 Map of West Sepik Province……………………………………………………………………………….5 Lateral View of the study site……………………………………………………………………………....6 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………………....7 Glossary and Abbreviations………………………………………………………………….......................8 Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………....9 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………….10-11 Background……………………………………………………………………………….….....................11 Provincial & District Profile…………………………………………...........................................11 Aims and Objectives of the study…………………………………………………………………………12 Methods and Materials………………………………………………………………………………...12-13 Study population and sites…………………………………………………………......................12 Data collection tools……………………………………………………………………………....12 Verbal interview questionnaires…………………………………………………………………..13 Results……………………………………………………………………………………….................14-17 Figure 1-Simple & Treatment Failure malaria cases in table…………………………………….14 Figure...

Words: 6445 - Pages: 26

Free Essay

Doctor

...Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, 1995 2. Scope of Application  2.    Subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (2), these regulations shall apply to an employer or a self employed person who carries out work at a workplace which may expose any person to the intake of an HCS at the workplace. 3.    The provisions of regulations 3(1), 6 and 7 shall not apply to: a.    a self employed person; or b.    a person who visits a workplace as contemplated in subregulation (1). 4.    The provisions of these regulations shall not apply in the case where the Lead Regulations and Asbestos Regulations apply . 3. Information and training  1.    An employer shall, before any employee is exposed or may be exposed, after consultation with the health and safety committee established for that section of the workplace, ensure that the employee is adequately and comprehensively informed and trained, as well as thereafter informed and trained at intervals as may be recommended by that health and safety committee, with regard to: a.    the contents and scope of these regulations; b.    the potential source exposure; c.    the potential risks to health caused by exposure; d.    the potential detrimental effect of exposure on his or her reproductive ability; e.    the measures to be taken by the employers to protect an employee against any risk from exposure; ...

Words: 26248 - Pages: 105

Premium Essay

Guidelines for the Classification of Waste

...GUIDELINES FOR THE CLASSIFICATION AND CODING OF INDUSTRIAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTES TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WASTE PERMITS DIVISION RG-022 Revised 2/05 GUIDELINES FOR THE CLASSIFICATION AND CODING OF INDUSTRIAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTES THIS IS A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS A REPLACEMENT TO THE RULES. The rules for classifying and coding industrial wastes and hazardous wastes may be found in 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Sections (§§) 335.501-.521 (Subchapter R). Prepared by: I&HW Permits Section, MC 130 Waste Permits Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13087 Austin, Texas 78711-3087 RG-022 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Revised February 2005 i Kathleen Hartnett White, Chairman R. B. “Ralph” Marquez, Commissioner Larry R. Soward, Commissioner Glenn Shankle, Executive Director Authorization for use or reproduction of any original material contained in this publication—that is, not obtained from other sources—is freely granted. The commission would appreciate acknowledgment. Copies of this publication are available for public use through the Texas State Library, other state depository libraries, and the TCEQ Library, in compliance with state depository law. For more information on TCEQ publications call 512/239-0028 or visit our Web site at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/publications Published and distributed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality PO Box...

Words: 20040 - Pages: 81

Free Essay

Concept of Pest

...THE CONCEPT OF PEST A pest can be defined as any organism which injures man, his property, or his environment, or which just causes him annoyance. Such organisms include principally certain insects, nematodes, fungi, weeds, birds and rodents, or any other terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life, or virus, bacteria, etc. In agriculture, concern is normally expressed when the damage done to a crop by a specific crop pest or a group of pests causes a loss in yield or quality because this would mean a reduction in profit. When a loss in yield reaches certain proportions, the pest can be designated an economic pest. According to Edward and Heath (1964), the pest status is reached when there is a 5 percent loss in yield in a particular crop. In pest management, the economic appraisal of the pest status and justification of the need to embark on control measures is defined in relation to the following concepts: economic damage, economic injury level and economic threshold. Economic damage can be defined as the amount of injury done to a crop that will justify the cost of artificial control measures. Economic injury level is the lowest pest population density that can cause economic damage, which will vary from crop to crop, season to season, and area to area. For practical purposes, there is an economic threshold defined by Stern et al. (1959) as the pest population density at which control measures should be initiated or started to prevent an ever increasing pest population from...

Words: 20207 - Pages: 81