One of the main attractions of DDT was its persistence. In that very persistence, however, lay one part of its danger. Organophosphorous insecticides, which largely displayed organochlorines, include phosphamidon, fenirothion, diazinon and malathion. Phosphamidon was once sprayed to protect Atlantic region forests, and fenitrothion has been the leading forest insecticide for the past two decades. Diazinon and malathion are used primarily on fruit crops.
Organophosphorous insecticides are much less persistent than organochlorines.
But they, too, have their drawbacks. Phosphamidon use resulted in the widespread deaths of songbirds. And a recent Environment Canada review concluded that fenitrothion also has serious effects on songbirds, as well as aquatic insects and agriculturally important insects such as honey bee. Carbamate insecticides were the next major class brought into production. They had the advantage of being even less persistent in the environment.