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Highlights
- It was highly effective when it first came out
- It nearly wiped bed bugs out of America
- No longer effective and more dangerous than people realized
Americans were not as aware of the dangers of pesticides such as Malathion, which was commonly used. In 1939 along came the miracle pesticide of DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane). It was very effective in the military and civilian arenas in controlling lice, malaria, mosquitoes, and it nearly wiped out bed bugs in what was regarded as a “ totally safe” method. By the 1960’s bed bugs had built up resistance and maybe even immunity to this pesticide.
 In 1962, Rachael Carson wrote a book called "Silent Spring" which essentially demonized DDT and helped launch the environmental movement. By 1972 DDT was banned in the U.S. DDT is still used very effectively in other countries to control Malaria . Even though there is a public outcry to bring it back, it is unlikely that it would have any meaningful effect in controlling bed bugs.
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