P,p'-DDT

P,p'-DDT is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound, an organochlorine, originally developed in the 1940s as an insecticide. Its name is derived from the technical name of the chemical, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.

History

P,p'-DDT was first synthesized in 1874, but it was not until 1939 that Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller discovered its insecticidal properties. Müller was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1948 for his discovery.

Production and use

The production of P,p'-DDT involves the reaction of chloral hydrate with chlorobenzene in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst. The resulting product is then reacted with chlorine gas to produce P,p'-DDT.

P,p'-DDT was widely used during World War II to control malaria and typhus among troops and civilians. Post-war, it was used extensively in agriculture to control insect pests on a wide range of crops.

Environmental and health effects

P,p'-DDT is persistent in the environment and accumulates in fatty tissues. It can travel long distances in the atmosphere. Its half-life varies from 2-15 years, and it can take up to 30 years to degrade.

Exposure to P,p'-DDT can lead to a variety of health effects, including cancer, reproductive harm, and developmental issues. It is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Regulation

Due to its environmental and health effects, the use of P,p'-DDT has been banned in many countries. However, it is still used in some areas for malaria control under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which allows for its use in disease vector control.

See also

• Organochlorine compound
• Persistent organic pollutant
• Environmental impact of pesticides