What does DDT do?

Question

I am doing a report on the pesticide DDT. I was wondering if anyone knew what bad effects it had on people. Everything I read about it is so complicated. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

It almost wiped out the raptors in the USA by making their eggs too brittle to sit on.

Answer 2

DDT is a potent insecticide. The way it kills insects is by keeping the sodium channels open in their neurons, causing the neuron to fire spontaneously. (Human neurons also have sodium channels, but are not sensitive to DDT). The effect is that it leads to uncontrolled spasming and eventually death.

The use of DDT was important in many instances. For example, it is responsible for eradicating malaria from Europe and North America. It was also extensively used as an agricultural insecticide in the US after 1945.

There are no substantial scientific studies so far which prove that DDT is particularly toxic to humans (or other primates, for that matter) compared to other widely-used pesticides. For example, DDT can be applied directly to clothes (by farmers, or anyone working in environments that have lots of mosquitos) and used in soap, with no immediate or acute ill effects. Having said that, I would not recommend doing so, since its toxic effects are still somewhat controversial.

DDT has also, on rare occasions, been administered orally as a treatment for barbiturate poisoning/overdose. It has also been associated with other problems, such as premature births, hepatotoxicity (liver problems), and renal problems.

Answer 3

Well, Wikipedia has this to say:

"There are no substantial scientific studies so far which prove that DDT is particularly toxic to humans or other primates, compared to other widely-used pesticides. DDT can be applied directly to clothes and used in soap, with no demonstrated ill effects.[5] Indeed, DDT has on rare occasions been administered orally as a treatment for barbiturate poisoning.[6]"

I know it seems strange, but they go on to clarify:

"Although DDT is generally not toxic to human beings and was banned mainly for ecological reasons, subsequent research has shown that exposure to DDT at amounts that would be needed in malaria control might cause preterm birth and early weaning, abrogating the benefit of reducing infant mortality from malaria. ... DDT might be useful in controlling malaria, but the evidence of its adverse effects on human health needs appropriate research on whether it achieves a favourable balance of risk versus benefit. "

Hope this helps. The article also says a lot of the problems with DDT have more to do with ecological impact on animals.

Answer 4

From what i gathered it's a very powerful pesticide that kills bugs that harm crops. The downside is that its rather poisonous and can get into water supplies and screw up ecosystems (some species of animal don't handle the pesticide well) so there have been great reductions in a few animal populations. I'd love to tell you which ones but i have no idea. hope that helps

Answer 5

If you look up information during the years of 1960-1990's you can narrow the search. I live in the center of california. There are many work accidents with those who work in the fields picking the veggies and fruits. When you search, type in negative side effects. I think cancer is apart of it as well.

Answer 6

Banned pesticide,killed bugs,but caused cancer in people,
almost caused the extinction of the American Bald Eagle,and several other species.DDT-Bad.

Answer 7

Google it