Question

Why would you name DDT as a non- biodegradable material? Give reasons in support of your answer?

Answer 1

All living creatures rely on a clean environment for growth, development, and reproduction. This atmospheric harmony can be influenced by unnecessary components in the ecosystem. Pollutants that can never be broken down into smaller, quite acceptable substances are recognized as non-biodegradable pollutants.

Complete step by step answer: DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is pretty much the best-known utility as an insecticide for agriculture and vector-borne diseases like malaria. That being said, the WHO has permitted its re-establishment only for the prevention of vector-borne diseases in certain tropical regions. DDT is the perfect example of non-biodegradable material since it cannot be easily degraded by microorganisms. Due to its physicochemical characteristics and its longevity in half-life, DDT has also been involved with many health and social issues attributable to its environmental aggregation and bioaccumulation characteristics in living creatures. The phenomenon by which such contaminants build up in tissues at higher concentrations along its food network is called biological magnification. Such contaminants (DDT) are non-biodegradable, i.e. they can never be metabolized and decomposed or digested until they are consumed by a life form. The above substances are actually placed in the body's fat-containing tissues. Till now, there are no special proteins identified in the microorganisms to degrade or convert DDT into non-harmful material.

Additional information:
Illegal distraction to agricultural production is indeed a problem, as this is tough to prevent it or its subsequent usage on crop plants is uncontrolled. For example, the use of DDT as insecticides is prominent in Indian agriculture, especially mango production, and has been documented for use by library professionals to shield textbooks. Just after cessation in the use of DDT throughout the United States, the amount of DDT in the atmosphere and animals diminished, but due to its retention, the traces of concern due to the historical use exist. A few individuals and communities proposed that limits on the use of DDT for humanitarian purposes have caused unnecessary morbidity and mortality due to vector-borne diseases. Before DDT, malaria was pretty much eliminated or limited in many tropical regions by suppressing or poisoning breeding grounds for mosquitoes and their larvae, for instance by eradicating stagnant water.

Note: DDT is a colourless and odorless organic substance predominantly used as insecticides in the agricultural fields. Since there is no possible way for its degradation by any means, they have now become non-biodegradable material and as a pollutant affecting life forms in the environment. DDT also causes problems in reproduction, where the developed embryo fails to attach to the uterus, thus, killing the fetus in that stage itself.