The history of DDT ENT 5009 S 2011 Vera Krischik Entomology The history of DDT DDT is moderately to slightly toxic to mammals by the World Health Organization as Class II DDT oral toxicity acute oral LD 50 113 118 mg kg in rats 150 300 mg kg in mice 300 mg kg in rabbits 500 750 mg kg in dogs and 1 000 mg kg in sheep and goats DDT dermal toxicity DDT is less toxic exposed via the skin acute dermal LD50 2 510 mg kg in rats During the 30 years prior to its cancellation in 1973 a total of approximately 1 350 000 000 pounds of DDT was used domestically The history of DDT DDT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 EPA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm DDT Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane for many years one of the most widely used pesticidal chemicals in the US was first synthesized in 1874 Its effectiveness as an insecticide was only discovered in 1939 Shortly thereafter during World War II the U S began producing large quantities of DDT for control of vector borne diseases such as typhus and malaria abroad After 1945 agricultural and commercial usage of DDT became widespread in the U S The popularity of DDT a member of the chlorinated hydrocarbon group was due to its reasonable cost effectiveness persistence and versatility During the 30 years prior to its cancellation a total of approximately 1 350 000 000 pounds of DDT was used in the US The history of DDT DDT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 EPA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm After 1959 DDT usage in the U S declined greatly dropping from a peak of approximately 80 million pounds in that year to just under 12 million pounds in the early 1970s Of the quantity of the pesticide used in 1970 72 over 80 percent was applied to cotton crops with the remainder being used predominantly on peanut and soybean crops The decline in DDT usage was the result of 1 increased insect resistance 2 the development of more effective alternative pesticides 3 growing public concern over adverse environmental side effects 4 increasing government restrictions on DDT use The history of DDT DT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 PA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm he Federal Government was aware of the hazards of DDT In 1957 the Forest Service USDA prohibited the spraying of DDT specified protective strips around aquatic areas on lands under its risdiction In 1958 after having applied approximately 9 1 2 million pounds its Federal State control programs since 1945 USDA began to phase ut its use of DDT Spraying of DDT was reduced from 4 9 million acres in 957 to just over 100 000 acres in 1967 The major uses of DDT by the orest Service have been against the gypsy moth and the spruce budworm ilent Spring by Dr Rachael Carson was published in 1962 In 1964 the Secretary of the Interior issued a directive stating at the use of chlorinated hydrocarbons on Interior lands hould be avoided unless no other substitutes were available June 1970 the use of 16 types of pesticides including DDT as banned on any lands managed by the Department The history of DDT DT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 PA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm Between November 1967 and April 1969 USDA canceled DDT gistrations for use against house flies and roaches on foliage more than 17 crops in milk rooms and on cabbage and lettuce In August 1969 DDT usage was sharply reduced in certain areas of SDA s cooperative Federal State pest control programs following a view of these programs in relation to environmental contamination In November 1969 USDA initiated action to cancel all DDT registrations r use against pests of shade trees aquatic areas the house and arden and tobacco USDA further announced its intention to discontinue l uses nonessential to human health and for which there were safe and fective substitutes The history of DDT DT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 PA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm In August 1970 in another major action USDA canceled Federal gistrations of DDT products used as follows on 50 food crops beef cattle oats sheep swine lumber finished wood products and buildings around commercial institutional and industrial establishments ncluding all nonfood areas in food processing plants and restaurants on flowers and ornamental turf areas The history of DDT DDT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 EPA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm EPA Regulatory Actions 1 Federal regulation of pesticides was transferred to the USEPA n January 1971 under a court order following a suit by the Environmental Defense Fund EDF EPA issued notices of ntent to cancel all remaining Federal registrations of products containing DDT The principal crops affected by this action were cotton citrus and certain vegetables 2 In March 1971 EPA issued cancellation notices for all egistrations of products containing TDE a DDT metabolite The EPA further announced that no suspension of the registration of DDT products was warranted because evidence of imminent hazard to the public welfare was lacking Suspension in contrast to cancellation is the more severe action taken against pesticide products under the law The history of DDT DT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 EPA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm Because of the decision not to suspend companies were able to ontinue marketing their products in interstate commerce pending e final resolution of the administrative cancellation process fter reconsideration of the March order in light of a scientific dvisory committee report the EPA later reaffirmedrefusal to suspend DT registrations The report was requested by Montrose Chemical orporation sole remaining manufacturer of the basic DDT chemical August 1971 upon the request of 31 DDT formulators hearing began on the cancellation of all remaining ederally registered uses of products containing DDT hen the hearing ended in March 1972 the transcripts of 312 pages contained testimony from 125 expert witnesses and over 00 documents The history of DDT DDT Regulatory History A Brief Survey to 1975 EPA report July 1975 http www epa gov history topics ddt 02 htm 5 On June 14 1972 the EPA Administrator announced the final cancellation of all remaining crop uses of DDT n the U S effective December 31 1972 The order did not affect public health and quarantine uses or exports of DDT The