DDT

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a chemical that was widely used as an insecticide in the mid-20th century. It was effective at controlling pests such as mosquitoes and typhus-carrying lice, but it was later discovered to be harmful to wildlife and the environment. DDT is a persistent organic pollutant, which means that it does not degrade easily in the environment and can accumulate in the food chain. Its use was banned in many countries, including the United States, in the 1970s.