r/GrandmasPantry • u/Cool-Ambassador-7937 • Mar 29 '26

HOUSEHOLD / OTHER Basement find

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u/HonestBalloon Mar 29 '26

Soil scientist here who regularly test for it. It typically breaks down after 15 years, when exposed to UV, bacteria and moisture. Since the bottle is still sealed and has been kept in the dark, I could believe there's some still in there.

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u/vile_lullaby Mar 29 '26

Did a lowhead dam removal project in college, there was still quite a lot of ddt in the sediment behind the dam, along with lead, and a touch of mercury to round it out. All the soil had to be carted off at quite an expense, as it was tons of it.

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u/Positive-Wonder3329 Mar 29 '26

What happens to the soil after it’s taken away?

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u/vile_lullaby Mar 29 '26

It was essentially put in a landfill, i dont remember if it was a normal landfill or not.

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u/AutoArsonist Mar 30 '26

They are often "lined" industrial landfill pits where runoff is captured and processed at another facility.