DDT (C14H9Cl5)

1,1,1-trichloro- 2,2-bis- (4-chlorophenyl)ethane

CAS Number

50-29-3

Properties

  • colourless and odourless, light aromatic crystals
  • is a persistent organic pollutant

Main sources

  • insecticides (against malaria)
  • earlier: cotton production, agriculture, lice control

Thresholds for the reporting requirement of facilities in accordance with Annex 2 PRTRO

(Ordinance on the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of Pollutants in Waste Water)

  • Air               1 kg/year
  • Water          1 kg/year
  • Soil              1 kg/year

Impacts

  • suspected carcinogenic effect
  • accumulates in the food chain
  • disrupts the reproduction systems of animals in various ways (e.g. eggshell thinning in birds)

Measures

  • banned since 1972 in Switzerland
  • banned since the Stockholm Convention came into force in 2004 (exception: malaria control)

Further information

Contact
Last modification 04.07.2018

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