Home
News
Links
Bibliography
Biological
Chemical
Radiological
Chemical Defenses Home
 
DDT overview.
Name (Merck Index): DDT
Used for control of: Insects, ticks
Trade names:
  • Agritan
  • Anofex
  • Arkotine
  • Bovidermol
  • Citox
  • Clofenotan
  • Dedelo
  • Detox
  • Diamekta
  • Dibovin
  • Didimac
  • Dinocide
  • Genitox
  • Gesapon
  • Gesarex
  • Gyron
  • Hildit
  • Ivoran
  • Ixodex
  • Mutoxan
  • Neocid
  • Parachlorocidum
  • Pentachlorin
  • Rukseam
  • Zerdane
Available for distribution as: Aerosols, dusts, emulsifiable concentrates, granules, solutions, wettable powders
Manufacturers: Hindustan Insecticides, Shenzhen Jiangshan
Risk to humans and mammals: DDT is immediately toxic by contact and ingestion. It also has long term effects. It accumulates in the adipose tissue and can cause damage to liver, bone marrow, and the endocrine system. It is carcinogenic, mutagenic and dangerous to the fetus.
Risk and Hazard Warnings
  • Toxic if swallowed
  • Possible risk of adverse effects
  • Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed
  • Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
  • Keep locked up and out of reach of children
  • Do not breathe dust
  • Wear suitable protection and gloves
  • In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately
  • This material and/or its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste
  • Avoid release to the environment
Warning Symbols
First Aid In case of swallowing, flush the digestive tract by gastric and intestinal lavage. Give sorbents such as charcoal or oatmeal gruel. Treat symptoms as they appear.
Risk to other animals: Extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. DDT is stable and is accumulated by some organisms. Some fish can concentrate DDT several thousand fold.
Risk to plants: Phytotoxic to barley, beans, cucurbits, and young tomatos.
Other comments:

DDT is probably the most controversial substance on this site other than the chemical weapons. In many ways it was the first true insecticide and played a major role in the control of disease vectors in the aftermath of World War II and in controlling mosquitos in the Third World.

As the first insecticide, it was used essentially without fully understanding the effects it could have on other organisms. It took over a decade before its environmental effects were fully understood. Two things were seen: a decline in the population of wildlife, including some birds and many beneficial insects and the appearance of resistant strains of mosquito.

Once DDT's effects were understood, it was taken out of use and is no longer registered for use in most countries. However, some countries have retained the option of using it in the event of a public health emergency.

Chemical Structure:
Chemical Abstracts name: Benzene, 1,1'-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)bis[4-chloro-]
Registry number
(CAS#):
50-29-3
IUPAC name: 1,1,1--trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane
RTECS number: KJ3325000
Chemical properties: Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, unstable in the presence of alkali. Nonvolatile
Other trivial names: Arkotine, Digmar, Kopsol, Neocid. Mixtures include: Didigam, Heliotox, Noita-koisumu,Vantal
Pesticides can only be regarded as safe if used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Home Copyright Disclaimer
Privacy
Feedback Sponsorship