In: Chemistry
(a) In the developed world, DDT is now generally seen in a negative light. However this has not always been the case – for instance, Paul Müller was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1948 for his work on this compound.
Give a balanced account of this organochlorine compound, including examples of both beneficial and detrimental consequences of its use and how ideas about these have changed with time. You should structure your answer into three sections, considering:
(i) the early advantages and benefits of using DDT
(ii) the subsequent problems that emerged from its use
(iii) the present (and future) position concerning its use
(3 x 4 marks)
(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) DDT
1) Use against malaria :DDT is one of many that public health officials use to fight the malaria diseases .
2) Agriculture : DD T (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) is the most popular of all insecticides because it's use helped reveal the many hazards associated with synthetic (man-made) pesticides.
This colorless, odorless, insoluble toxic pesticide contains up to fourteen chemical compounds. It is known for its ability to destroypesky insects such as flies, lice, and mosquitoes, as well as agricultural pests .
3)In tropical areas, the use of DDT has helped save millions of
lives that would otherwise have been lost to disease.
2) DDT is toxic to a wide range of living organisms, it disrupts female reproductive tract development, impairing eggshell quality later . it is considered likely to be a human carcinogen due to its toxic effect .
When ingested by humans, DDT is stored in body fats and can be passed on to nursing babies. Low levels of DDT in humans are harmless but large concentrations can cause severe health problems such as liver cancer.
3) the present and future concern from its use is as it is water insoluble it is passes to aquatic lifes and have a severe effect in increasing death rate of marine lifes .