DDT

DDTMatthew Spicuzza

Outline

• What is DDT?• Structure of DDT• Rachel Carson• Dangers of DDT• MOA• How DDT “helped”• Conclusions • Questions

What is DDT?

• In 1948 Paul Mueller was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine

• DDT is a pesticide

• Persistent Organic Pollutant

Structure of DDT

• Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

Rachel Carson

• Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring

7

DDT

• DDD– 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis[p-chlorophenyl] ethane

• DDE – Dichlorodiphenyldichlolorethylene

– a degradation of DDT

– also dangerous to environment

Dangers of DDT

• Bioaccumulation

• POP

• Birds are major target species

MOA in Birds

• Inhibits Ca-dependent ATPases

• Egg shell thinning

• Increased risk of damage to eggs

Birds affected by DDT• Osprey• Brown Pelican • Raptor

How DDT “helped”

• Boomerang Paradigm

• Increased awareness of ecotoxicity

Conclusions

• In conclusion, DDT is an insecticide that was used heavily from the late 1930’s to the early 1970’s

• Throughout this time there were several populations of birds that declined rapidly

• DDT has been one of the most widely influential pesticides to help gain the attention of the impact we have on the environment.

References• Casarett, Louis J., John Doull, and Curtis D. Klaassen. "Chapter

29/Ecotoxicology." Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. 1176-177. Print.

• Michael, C. Newman. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, Third EditionMichael C. Newman. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, Third Edi: CRC, 2009. Print.

• "DDT - A Brief History and Status | Pesticides | US EPA." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/ddt-brief-history-status.htm>.

• Dr. Baer’s power points from clinical toxicology • Google images

Questions?