You may have come across the term DDT before, but did you know it stands for Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane? It’s not just a tongue-twister—it’s a chemical that once revolutionized agriculture, yet also left behind one of the most controversial legacies in environmental history.
Picture this: it’s the 1940s, and a pesticide called DDT is hailed as a game-changer for farmers everywhere. It’s wiping out pests that had long plagued crops, and its success was celebrated worldwide. But that victory came at a steep price. Today, DDT is banned in most countries due to its devastating effects on the environment and human health. So how did something so promising turn into a global threat?