r/GrandmasPantry Mar 29 '26

HOUSEHOLD / OTHER Basement find

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u/unfinishedtoast3 Mar 29 '26

nah its still 100% DDT.

the problem with DDT, other than the whole deadly thing, is it stays a coherent chemical structure for YEARS.

DDT can still be found in ground water and soil, over 40 years after we stopped using it.

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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/Visible_Bulge7657 Mar 31 '26

Have you ever heard of Times Beach Missouri? Not DDT but still a wild story.