Does DDT Affect The Environment

Every year, thousands of crops are transported overseas. Many countries rely on transoceanic transport to supply their people with crops that they cannot grow themselves. Some of these crops include fruits, vegetables, plants, and sometimes even meat. These crops endure a very long journey from country to country and if no method is used to preserve them, they will spoil or rot before they reach their destination. When food is being transported over a period of time, bacteria will grow on the crops and cause them to go bad. Also, insects may infest these crops making them inedible. There are many different ways to preserve crops during transoceanic transport so they do not become contaminated with bacteria or insects such as pesticides, refrigeration, and ventilation. Pesticides such as DDT are one of the most commonly used methods in preserving
DDT can affect the environment in one of two ways. One, DDT is one of many chemicals that are listed as Chlorofluorocarbons. These chemicals are extremely harmful to the ozone layer and can cause it to deteriorate over time. Most chemicals containing Chlorofluorocarbons have been banned, however some chemicals, such as DDT, still contain them. The second way that DDT can affect our environment is by harming our wildlife. DDT can affect many different types of wildlife. For example, DDT can be hazardous to fish because if the chemical enters water in which fish reside, it may enter their blood stream and cause premature death. DDT is most famous for its harmful affect on birds. Birds exposed to this harsh chemical may produce eggs that lack calcium making them easier to break. This is called thinning of eggshells. Some birds affected by this include osprey, eagles, pelicans, falcons, and hawks. DDT not only harms the environment and wildlife, it can harm human beings as