DDT Insecticidal Properties Discovered

DDT "was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s. It was initially used with great effect to combat malaria, typhus, and the other insect-borne human diseases among both military and civilian populations. It also was effective for insect control in crop and livestock production, institutions, homes, and gardens. DDT's quick success as a pesticide and broad use in the United States and other countries led to the development of resistance by many insect pest species." However, the indiscriminate and widespread use of DDT also raised alarming environmental concerns, as it accumulated in ecosystems and adversely impacted non-target species, particularly birds and aquatic life, ultimately contributing to the decline of certain wildlife populations and prompting calls for stricter environmental regulations and the eventual ban of DDT in several countries.