JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3ev177
Organophosphate insecticides replaced DDT in many applications because, compared with DDT, they
Aare not soluble in any solvent
Bare less toxic to humans in acute exposure
Cact only on plants and not on insects
Dare rapidly hydrolysed in the environment and do not persist or biomagnify
Answer: D
Organophosphates break down within days to weeks in soil and water, so they do not accumulate in food chains. They are often more acutely toxic to mammals than DDT, so the third option is wrong, and they act on the insect nervous system.