The short answer
DDT is a pesticide banned in the U.S. in 1972 but still persistent in the environment. U.S. and international authorities classify it as a probable human carcinogen.
EPA says DDT is classified as a probable human carcinogen by U.S. and international authorities.
EPA says residues of concern from historical use still remain because DDT is so persistent.
A carcinogen classification describes hazard — whether something can cause cancer — not your personal risk at a given exposure.
EPA says DDT levels in the environment and animals have decreased since the U.S. stopped using it.
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The simple version
DDT is a pesticide. It was once used widely against insects and against the mosquitoes that carry malaria. The U.S. banned it in 1972 because of its environmental effects. EPA says it is very persistent and builds up in fatty tissues. U.S. and international authorities classify it as a probable human carcinogen.
What DDT is
DDT stands for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. It is a long-lasting pesticide. EPA issued a cancellation order for DDT in 1972. EPA says the Stockholm Convention permits limited use against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Because it breaks down slowly, traces remain in soil, water, and the food chain.
How people are exposed
Common ways people come into contact with it:
- Residues from historical use that remain in the environment.
- Living where DDT is still used to control disease.
The cancer connection
EPA says DDT is classified as a probable human carcinogen by U.S. and international authorities, with animal studies showing liver tumors.
Hazard is not the same as risk
A classification describes what DDT can do, not what it will do to you. Your own risk depends on how much DDT you take in and over how long. A farm worker who sprayed it in the 1960s is in a very different position from someone eating trace residues in fish today. The classification is about the chemical. It is not a prediction about a person.
How to lower your exposure
- EPA says levels in the environment and animals have decreased since the U.S. stopped using DDT.
- Follow local guidance in places where DDT is still used.
The bottom line
DDT is classified as a probable human carcinogen. Ask your doctor if you have a specific exposure concern. For the wider picture, see our overview of cancer prevention and what raises cancer risk.
Sources
Common questions
Does ddt cause cancer?
Probably. EPA says DDT is classified as a probable human carcinogen by U.S. and international authorities, with animal studies showing liver tumors. "Probable" means suspected, not proven.
How are people exposed to ddt?
EPA says residues from historical use remain in the environment because DDT is very persistent and accumulates in fatty tissues. Ask your doctor if you have a specific exposure concern.
How can I reduce my exposure to ddt?
EPA says concentrations in the environment and animals have decreased since the U.S. stopped using DDT. Follow local guidance where DDT is still used.
Does a carcinogen label mean I will get cancer?
No. A classification is about hazard — whether ddt can cause cancer under some conditions — not a prediction that any one exposed person will develop cancer. Your actual risk depends on the amount and length of exposure and other factors.
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Last updated: 2026-10-16Next planned review: 2028-07-05
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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