Chlordane: Difference between revisions
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'''Chlordane''' is a manufactured chemical that was used as a [[pesticide]] in the [[United States]] from 1948 to 1988. It does not occur naturally in the environment. Technical chlordane is a mixture of two isomers called alpha-chlordane and gamma-chlordane and many byproducts from production. It was sold by Chevron as a white powdery dust in combination with an emulsifier. When mixed with water and the emulsifier it becomes a thick colorless to amber liquid. Until 1983, chlordane was used as a pesticide on crops like [[Maize|corn]] and [[citrus]] and on home lawns and gardens. Chevron specifically marketed it as an [[ant]] killer, under the Ortho name. |
'''Chlordane''' is a manufactured chemical that was used as a [[pesticide]] in the [[United States]] from 1948 to 1988. It does not occur naturally in the environment. Technical chlordane is a mixture of two isomers called alpha-chlordane and gamma-chlordane and many byproducts from production. It was sold by Chevron as a white powdery dust in combination with an emulsifier. When mixed with water and the emulsifier it becomes a thick colorless to amber liquid. Until 1983, chlordane was used as a pesticide on crops like [[Maize|corn]] and [[citrus]] and on home lawns and gardens. Chevron specifically marketed it as an [[ant]] killer, under the Ortho name. |
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==Environmental impact== |
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Because of concern about damage to the environment and harm to human health, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) banned all uses of chlordane in 1983 except termite control. The EPA banned all uses of chlordane in 1988. The EPA recommends that children should not drink water with more than 60 parts of chlordane per billion parts of drinking water (60 ppb) for longer than 1 day. EPA has set a limit in drinking water of 2 ppb. |
Because of concern about damage to the environment and harm to human health, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) banned all uses of chlordane in 1983 except termite control. The EPA banned all uses of chlordane in 1988. The EPA recommends that children should not drink water with more than 60 parts of chlordane per billion parts of drinking water (60 ppb) for longer than 1 day. EPA has set a limit in drinking water of 2 ppb. |
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Chlordane bioaccumulates in fish, birds, and mammals. |
Chlordane bioaccumulates in fish, birds, and mammals. |
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==Health effects== |
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Chlordane affects the [[nervous system]], the [[digestive system]], and the [[liver]] in people and animals. Headaches, irritability, confusion, weakness, vision problems, vomiting, [[stomach]] [[cramp]]s, [[diarrhea]], and [[jaundice]] have occurred in people who breathed air containing high concentrations, or accidentally swallowed small amounts of chlordane. Eating large amounts causes [[convulsion]]s and [[death]] in people. Recent studies have linked chlordane exposure with prostate and breast cancers in humans. |
Chlordane affects the [[nervous system]], the [[digestive system]], and the [[liver]] in people and animals. Headaches, irritability, confusion, weakness, vision problems, vomiting, [[stomach]] [[cramp]]s, [[diarrhea]], and [[jaundice]] have occurred in people who breathed air containing high concentrations, or accidentally swallowed small amounts of chlordane. Eating large amounts causes [[convulsion]]s and [[death]] in people. Recent studies have linked chlordane exposure with prostate and breast cancers in humans. |
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Revision as of 14:19, 12 October 2008
Template:Chembox new Chlordane is a manufactured chemical that was used as a pesticide in the United States from 1948 to 1988. It does not occur naturally in the environment. Technical chlordane is a mixture of two isomers called alpha-chlordane and gamma-chlordane and many byproducts from production. It was sold by Chevron as a white powdery dust in combination with an emulsifier. When mixed with water and the emulsifier it becomes a thick colorless to amber liquid. Until 1983, chlordane was used as a pesticide on crops like corn and citrus and on home lawns and gardens. Chevron specifically marketed it as an ant killer, under the Ortho name.
Environmental impact
Because of concern about damage to the environment and harm to human health, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all uses of chlordane in 1983 except termite control. The EPA banned all uses of chlordane in 1988. The EPA recommends that children should not drink water with more than 60 parts of chlordane per billion parts of drinking water (60 ppb) for longer than 1 day. EPA has set a limit in drinking water of 2 ppb.
Chlordane is strongly hydrophobic. It sticks to soil particles at the soil surface and is not likely to enter groundwater. It can stay in the soil for over 20 years where it breaks down very slowly. It has a reported half life of one year. [1]
Chlordane bioaccumulates in fish, birds, and mammals.
Health effects
Chlordane affects the nervous system, the digestive system, and the liver in people and animals. Headaches, irritability, confusion, weakness, vision problems, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and jaundice have occurred in people who breathed air containing high concentrations, or accidentally swallowed small amounts of chlordane. Eating large amounts causes convulsions and death in people. Recent studies have linked chlordane exposure with prostate and breast cancers in humans.
According to the ATSDR, a man who had long-term skin contact with soil containing high levels of chlordane had convulsions. Japanese workers who used chlordane over a long period of time had minor changes in liver function.[2]
Animals given high levels of chlordane by mouth for short periods died or had convulsions. Long-term exposure caused harmful effects in the liver of test animals.
It is not known if chlordane affects human fertility or whether it causes birth defects. Animals exposed before birth or while nursing developed behavioral effects later. A recent study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that exposure to chlordane metabolites may be associated with testicular cancer. The incidence of seminoma in men with the highest blood levels of cis-nonachlor was almost double that of men with the lowest levels.[1][2]
References
- ^ Dunham, Will (April 29, 2008). "DDT-related chemical linked to testicular cancer". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
- ^ McGlynn, Katherine A.; Quraishi, Sabah M.; et al. (April 29, 2008), "Persistent Organochlorine Pesticides and Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors", Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published ahead of print, doi:10.1093/jnci/djn101
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