Polyhalogen compounds: DDT, chloroform (intro)
Haloalkanes and Haloarenes · Chemistry
Study notes
Why was DDT banned despite killing malaria mosquitoes? Step 1: DDT is fat-soluble, non-biodegradable → persists for decades. Step 2: Biomagnification: plankton → fish → birds, concentration multiplies at each level. Step 3: Top predators (eagles) got thin eggshells → population crashes. Step 4: Benefit (malaria control) vs cost (ecosystem damage) → banned 1970s–80s (limited malaria use continues). Persistence was the problem!