Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, now called chlorophenothane; a powerful insecticide effective against a wide variety of insects, esp. the flea, fly, louse, mosquito, bedbug, cockroach, Japanese beetle, and European corn borer. However, many species develop resistant populations, and birds and fish that feed on affected insects suffer toxic effects. In 1972, the U.S. banned DDT except for essential public health use and a few minor uses to protect crops for which there were no effective alternatives.
When ingested orally, it may cause acute poisoning. Symptoms are vomiting, numbness and partial paralysis of limbs, anorexia, tremors, and coma, resulting in death.