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Collective Action against DDT; a global commitment toward safer disease vector control
Once hailed as a miracle weapon against deadly diseases like malaria and typhus, DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) has over time revealed its darker legacy. Widely used after its insecticidal properties were discovered in 1939, DDT became a household name during and after World War II, saving countless lives by controlling disease-carrying mosquitoes.
However, its long-term environmental and health impacts—including links to cancer, reproductive harm, and ecological damage—have led to it being listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Today, DDT is listed in Annex B of the Convention, meaning its use is restricted. Countries may still produce or use it only for public health purposes—mainly for malaria control—when no safer, effective, and affordable alternatives exist. Even then, countries must follow strict conditions and regularly report their usage to the Stockholm Convention Secretariat.
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