DDT

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound, an organochloride[5]. It was originally developed as an insecticide and became infamous for its environmental impacts. DDT was first synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler, and its insecticidal action was discovered by the Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller in 1939[1][5]. Müller was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1948 for his discovery of the high efficiency of DDT as a contact poison against several arthropods[5].

DDT was used extensively during World War II and for three decades afterward to control insects that bore the pathogens for malaria and yellow fever[1]. It is credited with saving the lives of millions of people who would likely have died from these diseases and others[1]. However, soon after DDT was introduced, researchers found that it has a dark side. For humans and many other animal species, it acts as an acute and chronic toxin. It is an endocrine disruptor that can impair reproduction and harm the embryo or fetus. It is also a probable carcinogen[1]. To make matters worse, it is not biodegradable and thus can build up in animal tissues with high lipid contents[1].

The ban on DDT is recognized as a major factor in preventing the extinction of the bald eagle and peregrine falcon in the United States[1]. On January 10, Save the Eagles Day, you can celebrate the 2007 removal of the bald eagle from the endangered species list[1].

Citations:

[1] https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/d/dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.html

[2] https://www.healthandenvironment.org/docs/ToxipediaDDTArchive.pdf

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/DDT_FactSheet.html

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/pdf/ddt_factsheet.pdf

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT