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.
Using DDT to get rid of pests is like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly. While it may effectively eliminate the target pest, it can also cause unintended damage to other organisms.
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.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.