clofenotane

Clofenotane, also known as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), is a synthetic organochlorine insecticide that was widely used for agricultural and public health purposes, especially in the mid-twentieth century. It is a colorless, crystalline compound with almost no odor or taste. Clofenotane acts primarily as a central nervous system stimulant in insects by interfering with sodium channel function and antagonizing GABA-gated chloride channels, leading to paralysis and death of target pests. First synthesized in 1874, its insecticidal properties were discovered by Paul Hermann Müller in 1939. Clofenotane was extensively used during World War II to control vector-borne diseases such as malaria and typhus but has since been banned or restricted in many countries due to environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, endocrine-disrupting effects, carcinogenic potential, and ecological toxicity. Despite bans for agricultural use in most countries since the 1970s–2000s (including the US ban in 1972), it remains permitted for disease vector control under specific international agreements where alternatives are not available[1][3][4][8].

Brand names

GespanGesarolGeverol

Other names

DDTdichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanechlorophenotane