Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD)
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) are odorless, tasteless, solid chemicals made by humans that don’t occur naturally in the environment. They were widely used as pesticides to stop the spread of insects that affected crops or carried diseases like malaria. Their use was banned in the US in 1972 because of damage to the environment.
When DDT and DDD were used as pesticides, they could evaporate into the air and travel long distances. They would often end up settling in soil and sediment. Once in the environment, DDT and DDD persist for a very long time. Since the use of DDT and DDD is banned, most people in the US aren’t exposed to them, but people who live near hazardous waste sites that contain these chemicals could still be exposed to high levels. If DDT or DDD from a hazardous site enters the air or groundwater, those who live nearby can inhale or drink these chemicals. DDT and DDD can build up in plants or animals, and if people eat these contaminated products, they can be exposed too.
Exposure to DDT and DDD can disrupt the body’s hormones, leading to diabetes and thyroid dysfunction. It can also cause infertility, miscarriage, and preterm birth. High levels of DDT in the blood may be associated with an increased risk of liver or pancreatic cancer. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified DDT and DDD as probably causing cancer in humans.
In Liberty, Texas, the company Legacy Metals owns a site that was formerly a processor of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. In 2002, an investigation discovered that unauthorized disposal of hazardous waste at the site contaminated the soil with high levels of DDT and DDD. The state sent the facility’s representatives several notices of violation and letters requiring investigations through 2014. These correspondences went unanswered, and the facility was considered abandoned. In 2015 the state issued a fine to the new owner of the site, Legacy Metals, but the company is resisting payment. As of today, there is no plan or activity to secure the site and conduct remediation to mitigate the DDT and DDD contamination, even though the state has been aware of this contamination for over 20 years. The community in Liberty deserves health protective relief to ensure that they are not exposed to these harmful chemicals.
