CHEM120 Week 5 Discussion: Organic Chemistry – Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (Option 1)

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CHEM120 Week 5 Discussion: Organic Chemistry – Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (Option 1) Week 5 Discussion: Organic Chemistry Option 1: A growing concern in agricultural and food chemistry... is the presence of residues in food. We use many forms of organic chemicals in agriculture and food chemistry and there is a growing concern as to how safe these materials are. The organic compound that I choose for option one is DDT also known as Dichloro- diphenyl-trichloroethane. DDT was the primary choice of pesticide in agriculture because it was once of the first insecticides made in the 1940s. It was used to defend individuals against insect-borne diseases. Even though DDT had a moment of success, eventually it leads to insects developing resistance towards multiple pesticides. Not only was DDT used for agriculture with civilians and the military, but it was also was used to treat lice. Eventually, DDT was banned for use in the united states due to civilian health and the destruction of wildlife in 1972, but it is still used throughout the country to control mosquitos that carry and spread malaria. Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (ClC6H4)2CH(CCl3) is created by a reaction between trichloromethane and chlorobenzene (C6H5Cl). It is an organic halogen that is considered to be highly toxic to many insect species. DDT is completely soluble within fats and organic solvents but in completely insoluble in water. Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane had been recorded to be moderately toxic to mammals if eaten. Exposure to DDT has been recorded to cause tremors and convulsions and fatal doses of the chemical cause changes within the liver and lesions. In terms of reproductive issues due to the chemical it was found that some mammals became sterile and exhibited embryo attachment fails. Within the bird species, it was also recorded that DDT caused the thinning of eggshells. Other mammals experienced no reproductive effects. The biggest fear of DDT was if it caused cancer, it was found that mammals formed liver tumors. It was found that this chemical caused cancer of laboratory animals, however, research on humans was inadequate. Although DDT was made in a beneficial mindset it contributed negatively to the wildlife. DDT was not only toxic to insects but it was also toxic to birds which caused a decrease in reproduction. The chemical was also found to be extremely toxic to sea animals that affected their brain and heart. Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane accumulates within the human body in fatty tissues. When those fat storages are used as fuel, DDT will be broken down and released into the blood which will then make it's way to the liver and nervous system. The way it is expelled through the body is through urine, fecal matter, and breastmilk. DDT - A Brief History and Status. (2017, August 11). Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status DDT General Fact Sheet . (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2020, from http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/ddtgen.pdf Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) Factsheet. (2017, April 7). Retrieved June 3, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/DDT_FactSheet.html [Show More]

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