DDT was widely used in Russia in the 1950s for the suppression of the Siberian silkworm. Although officially banned in the USSR in 1970, DDT continued to be used until the late 1980s. Significant amounts of DDT remain unused and stored n the Bakcharskaya region around the city of Tomsk.

Following the fall of communism in 1991, many DDT storage areas were left in neglect and some warehouses where DDT and other pesticides are stored have since collapsed, posing serious risks to the environment and human health. An inspection by the local environmental agency of Tomsk in 2002-2003 discovered 3 tons of DDT stored in local hangars, with reports that some DDT had already leaked out into the surrounding environment and the `Big Daw' settlement area.

Parwanoo has rapidly developed into a pulsating industrial town within the last few years. Industrial units in the area directly discharge their untreated effluents into the Kaushalya River, which is a primary drinking water resource. Toxic fumes emitted by industries is also a growing problem.