Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 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.
Related terms
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.