Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
DDT, short for dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, is a synthetic pesticide that was widely used in the 1950s to control pests. It is highly effective in killing insects but has harmful effects on other organisms and the environment.
Biomagnification: This term refers to the process where certain pollutants, like DDT, become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
Pesticide resistance: This term describes when pests develop genetic adaptations that make them less susceptible or immune to the effects of pesticides.
Silent Spring: "Silent Spring" is a book written by Rachel Carson in 1962 that brought attention to the environmental impacts of pesticides, particularly DDT.