DDT Contamination Widespread in California Seafloor

High concentrations of DDT, a toxic pesticide, have been found on the seafloor off the coast of California, covering an area larger than San Francisco. The chemical waste was dumped by industrial companies for decades, and has been linked to cancer and disease in humans and the mass die-off of animals. The most concentrated layer of DDT is roughly 6cm deep in the sediment, and could be reintroduced to the surface by trawls or cable lays. Congress has allotted millions of dollars toward researching the issue and cleaning up the pollution.