Chlordane is a man-made chemical that was used as a pesticide in the United States until 1988. It is a thick liquid with a mild, irritating smell and a color that can range from colorless to amber. Chlordane is also sometimes known as Octachlor or Velsicol 1068. It was commonly used on corn and citrus as well as on home lawns and gardens until 1983. That year the EPA banned all uses of the chemical except to control termites and in 1988 the agency banned the use of chlordane entirely.

How You Are Exposed

It is possible to be exposed to chlordane by eating crops that have been cultivated in soil containing the chemical or fish that were caught in chlordane-contaminated water. It does build up in the tissues of fish, birds, and mammals and breaks down very slowly so it can stay in the soil for over 20 years. You can also potentially be exposed by breathing air or touching soil near homes that were treated for termites with chlordane-containing products. Waste sites or landfills can also be potential sources of exposure through air or soil. 

How Can Chlordane Affect Your Health?

Chlordane affects the nervous and digestive systems as well as the liver. Some of the symptoms that have been reported by people who have inhaled high concentrations of chlordane or swallowed small quantities of it include headache, irritability, confusion, weakness, vision difficulties, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and jaundice. Ingesting large amounts of chlordane can result in convulsions and even death.