Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a synthetic insecticide once widely used to control pests like mosquitoes and agricultural insects. It works by disrupting the nervous systems of insects, effectively reducing disease transmission and crop damage. However, DDT is highly persistent in the environment, accumulating in soil and water, and can build up in the food chain, affecting wildlife and human health. Due to environmental and health concerns, its use has been banned or restricted in many countries, though it remains in limited use in some areas for disease vector control.