Carson used DDT to tell the broader story of the disastrous consequences of the overuse of insecticides, and raised enough concern from her testimony before Congress to trigger the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DDT was first used in the second half of World War 2 to kill insects that spread diseases like malaria and typhus.

DDT is one of the most controversial chemical compounds in recent history. DDT is still used today in South America, Africa, and Asia for this purpose. • Farmers used DDT on a variety of food crops in the United States and worldwide. DDT is a chemical used as a pesticide.

DDT was also used in buildings for pest control.

Her work … It has proven effective as an insecticide, but its potent toxicity isn't limited to insects.Banned by many countries including the United States, DDT is nonetheless still used—legally or illegally—in some places.