DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) is perhaps the most recognized of all insecticide's because it revealed the many hazards associated with using synthetic pesticides. This colorless, odorless, insoluble toxic pesticide contains up to 14 chemical compounds and is known for its ability to eradicate pesky insects such as flies, lice, mosquitoes, and agricultural pests. Although first synthesized in 1874 by German chemist Othmar Zeidler, DDT was not used as an insecticide until 1939, when Swiss scientist Paul Hermann Müller (1899-1965) discovered its insect-killing properties. The benefits of DDT were demonstrated in the 1940s, however, when it was used in World War II to clear out mosquito-infested areas prior to invasion. Even after the war, the use of DDT in the United States almost completely wiped out malaria and yellow fever. In tropical areas, the use of DDT has helped save millions of lives that would otherwise have been lost to disease. DDT...