A Nazi version of DDT forgotten after World War II rediscovered

The Nazis, apparently, had developed a notorious insecticide, with minimal environmental impact.
Known as Difluorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DFDT), the fast-acting insecticide which the Nazis used during World War II for insect control in the Soviet Union and North Africa has been rediscovered by researchers recently. The study, exploring the chemistry and history of DFDT, has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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Choice of DFDT in World War II

"We set out to study the growth of crystals in a little-known insecticide and uncovered its surprising history, including the impact of World War II on the choice of DDT — and not DFDT — as a primary insecticide in the 20th century," said Bart Kahr, a professor at New York University and contributor to the research. 

A new crystal form of the Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which is considered to be one of the primary reasons behind the declining population of vultures, has been discovered by the researchers. The new form is not only more effective but also has a lesser impact on the environment and wildlife.

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Tested on fruit flies and mosquitoes

The researchers swapped the chlorine atoms for fluorine to prepare two solid forms of the compound — monofluoro and difluoro analogue. They tested the compound on fruit flies and mosquitoes carrying malaria, dengue and Zika and found that the fluorinated DDT was two to four times quicker than DDT in killing the insects.

"Speed thwarts the development of resistance," said NYU chemistry professor Michael Ward, a senior author on the study. "Insecticide crystals kill mosquitoes when they are absorbed through the pads of their feet. Effective compounds kill insects quickly, possibly before they are able to reproduce," he added.

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Came to an abrupt end after World War II

The report claimed that the chemical was used during WWII but its quality was questioned by the allied forces after they discovered DFDT. In their military intelligence reports, they dismissed the claims that DFDT was more efficient and less toxic than DDT, calling the sample size ‘meagre’ and ‘inadequate’. Later, the manufacturing of DFDT came to an abrupt end.

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(With PTI Inputs)