Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane Explained

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) is an organochlorine insecticide that is slightly irritating to the skin.^[1] DDD is a metabolite of DDT.^[2] DDD is colorless and crystalline;^[3] it is closely related chemically and is similar in properties to DDT, but it is considered to be less toxic to animals than DDT.^[4] The molecular formula for DDD is (ClC₆H₄)₂CHCHCl₂ or C₁₄H₁₀Cl₄, whereas the formula for DDT is (ClC₆H₄)₂CHCCl₃ or C₁₄H₉Cl₅.

DDD is in the “Group B2” classification, meaning that it is a probable human carcinogen. This is based on an increased incidence of lung tumors in male and female mice, liver tumors in male mice, and thyroid tumors in male rats. A further basis is that DDD is similar to and is a metabolite of DDT, another probable human carcinogen.^[2]

DDD is no longer registered for agricultural use in the United States, but the general population continues to be exposed to it due to its long persistence time. The primary source of exposure is oral ingestion of food.^[5]

1946 is the date of the earliest recorded use in English of the abbreviation “DDD” to stand for dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane, as far as could be determined.^[3]

Mitotane

If one of the p-chlorines in DDD is switched to ortho-position, the result is the chemotherapeutic agent mitotane. This is an example of a positional isomer.

Table of names

The following are synonyms for DDD:

Systematic Names	Superlist Names	Other Names
Benzene, 1,1'-(2,2- dichloroethylidene) bis(4-chloro- (9CI)	4,4'-DDD	1,1'-(2,2-Dichloroethylidene)bis (4-chlorobenzene)
Ethane, 1,1- dichloro-2,2-bis(p- chlorophenyl)-	Benzene, 1,1'-(2,2- dichloroethylidene)bis(4-chloro-	1,1-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2- dichloroethane
TDE	DDD	1,1-Bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2- dichloroethane
p,p'-TDE	DDD, p,p'-	1,1-Dichloor-2,2-bis(4-chloor fenyl)-ethaan (Dutch)
	Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane	1,1-Dichlor-2,2-bis(4-chlor- phenyl)-aethan (German)
	RCRA waste number U060	1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(4- chlorophenyl)-ethane (French)
	TDE	1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(4- chlorophenyl)ethane
	Tetrachlorodiphenylethane	1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p- chlorophenyl)ethane
	p,p'-TDE	1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis (parachlorophenyl)ethane
		1,1-Dichloro-2,2-di(4- chlorophenyl)ethane
		1,1-Dicloro-2,2-bis(4-cloro-fenil)- etano (Italian)
		2,2-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1- dichloroethane
		2,2-Bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1- dichloroethane
		4,4' DDD
		4,4-DDD
		4,4'- Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane
		4-05-00-01884 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
		AI3-04225
		Benzene, 1,1'-(2,2- dichloroethylidene)bis[4-chloro- |- | | | BRN 1914072 |- | | | CCRIS 573 |- | | | Caswell No. 307 |- | | | DDD analogue |- | | | DDD in whole water sample |- | | | Dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane |- | | | Dichlorodiphenyldichlorethane |- | | | Dilene |- | | | EINECS 200-783-0 |- | | | ENT 4,225 |- | | | [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] Pesticide Chemical Code 029101|-||| Ethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p- chlorophenyl)-|-||| HEPT|-||| HSDB 285|-||| ME-1700|-||| Me-700|-||| NCI-C00475|-||| NSC 8941|-||| OMS 1078|-||| para-para DDD|-||| para,para'-DDD|-||| para,para'- Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane|-||| p,p-DDD|-||| p,p'-DDD|-||| p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyl-2,2-dichloroethylene|-||| p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane|-||| Rhothane|-||| Rhothane D-3|-||| Rothane|-||| Rothane WP-50|} References “Chemicals: Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane.” The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. MDI Biological Laboratory, 11 Apr. 2007 . “Data From SRC PhysProp Database.” SRC PhysProp Database. Syracuse Research Corporation. 11 Apr. 2007 . “DDD.” Hazardous Substances Data Bank. United States National Library of Medicine. 25 Apr. 2007 . “DDD—RN: 72-54-8.” ChemIDplus Lite Record. 9 Sept. 2004. United States National Library of Medicine Specialized Information Services. 11 Apr. 2007 . Guralnik, David B., Editor in Chief. “DDD.” Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language. Second College Edition. New York, NY: Prentice Hall Press, 1986. (indexed), (plain edge), (pbk.), and (LeatherKraft). Mish, Frederick C., Editor in Chief. “DDD.” Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. 9th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., 1985., (indexed), and (deluxe). “p,p'-DDD.” Substance Registry System. 1 Feb. 2006. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 11 Apr. 2007 . “p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane (DDD) (CASRN 72-54-8).” Integrated Risk Information System. 25 Jan. 2007. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 23 Apr. 2007 . Notes External links TOXMAP Chemical Page for DDD MSDS for rhothane (DDD) provided by the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory of the University of Oxford

Notes and References

1. Merck Index, 11th ed, p482
2. “p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane (DDD) (CASRN 72-54-8).” Integrated Risk Information System. 25 Jan. 2007. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 23 Apr. 2007 .
3. Mish, Frederick C., Editor in Chief. “DDD.” Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. 9th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., 1985.
4. Guralnik, David B., Editor in Chief. “DDD.” Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language. Second College Edition. New York, NY: Prentice Hall Press, 1986.
5. “DDD.” Hazardous Substances Data Bank. United States National Library of Medicine. 25 Apr. 2007 .