Chlordane Fact Sheet

Source of Exposure

Chlordane and heptachlor products are used predominantly as tetmiticides but can be found in household and garden products. It is commonly injected or mixed into the soil around wooden structures. These compounds have come under regulation because of their long life in the environment. These pesticides are readily absorbed by ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact. They are manufactured under the trade names of Aspon-Chlordane, Belt, Chlor Kill, Octachlor, Corodane, Prinox, Heptagran, Heptamul, and Heptox.

Symptoms

Chronic exposure to chlordane is known to cause damage to liver and kidneys. Acute exposure may cause nausea, dizziness, tremors, and convulsions and loss of consciousness. These poisons are absorbed across the gut and interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses. This neurologic interference can produce weakness, apprehension, excitability and disorientation in an exposed patient. Additional symptoms may be irregular or depressed respiration as well as myocardial irritability. Many forms of the pesticide may be delivered in petroleum solvents that may contribute to respiratory depression upon exposure.

Blood Concentrations

The most common evidence of chlordane exposure found is the presence of heptachlor epoxide and trans-nonachlor. These compounds are detectable in 80% of the population. Serum concentrations average from 0.2 - 0.6 PPB in serum.

Toxic Levels

Chlordane and related compounds are highly toxic. As little as 2 g may be sufficient to cause a person to have convulsions and collapse. A child who consumed chlordane and developed seizures three hours after ingestion had serum levels of 2700 PPB. After 3 months the serum levels had fallen to 20 PPB. (Curley, 1969)

Metabolism

The metabolism of chlordane has not been studied in detail. It is believed that chlordane is excreted in feces and urine as a water soluble metabolite and has a half life in the body of 88 days.

Summary

Classification:   Chlorinated Pesticide
Population Average:   (Heptachlor epoxide) 0.6 PPB (serum)
Frequency Per 100:  (Heptachlor epoxide) 80%
Onset of Symptoms:   Data not available
Death: Data not available
Half Life:   88 days
IDLH:   chlordane 500 mg/kg     IDLH:   heptachlor 100 mg/kg
LD 5O:(oral-rat):   chlordane 100 mg/kg     LD 5O:(oral-rat):   heptachlor 40 mg/kg

References

-Aldrich, A.D. and Holmes, J.H. "Acute chlordane intoxication in a child", Arch Env Heal 19: 129-132, 1969.

-Barnes, R. "Poisoning by the insecticide chlordane”, Med.J.Aust. 1: 972-973, 1967.

-Barnett, J.R. and Dorough, H.W. "Metabolism of chlordane in rats", J.Food Chem. 22: 612-619, 1974.

-Baselt, R.C., Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. 2nd Ed., Davis, CA: Biomedical Publications, 1982.

-Biros, F.J and Enos, H.F. "Oxychlordane residues in human adipose tissue", Bull Env Cont Tox. 5: 257-260, 1973.

-Collins, I.S. and Crawford, W.A. "Chlordane", Med.J.Aust.: 762, 1976.

-Committee on Toxicology, An Assessment of the Health Risks of Seven Pesticides Used for Termite Control, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1982.

-Curley, A. and Garrettson, L.K. "Acute chlordane poisoning", Arch Env Health 18: 211-215, 1969.

-Dadey, J.L. and Kammer, A.G. "Chlordane intoxication", J Am Med Asso. 153: 723-725, 1953.

-Dale, W.E., Curley, A. and Cueto, C. Jr. "Hexane extractable chlorinated insecticides in human blood", Life Sci 5: 47-54, 1966.

-Dale, W.E., Curley, A. and Hayes, W.J. Jr. "Determination of chlorinated insecticides in human blood", Ind Med Surg. 36: 275-280, 1967.

-Davignon, L. F. , St. Pierre, J. , Charest, G. , and Tourangeau, F. J. "A study of the chronic effects of insecticides in man", in Canadian Med Assoc. 92: 507-602, 1965.

-Derbes, V.J., Dent, J.H., Forrest, W.W. and Johnson, M.F. "Fatal chlordane poisoning", J Am Med Asso. 158: 1367-1369, 1955.

-Furie, B. and Trubowitz, S. "Insecticides and blood dyscrasias", J Am Med Asso. 235: 1720-1722, 1976.

-Harrington, J.M. , Baker, E.L. Jr. , Folland, D.S. et al. "Chlordane contamination of a municipal water system", Env Res. 15: 155-159, 1978.

-Harris, C.R., and Sans, W.W. "Pesticides in soil", Pest Monitoring J. 5: 259-267, 1971.

-Lensky, P. and Evans, J.L. "Human poisoning by chlordane", J Am Med Asso 149: 1394-1395, 1952.

-Miyazaki, T. , Akiyama, K. , Kaneko, S. , et al. "Chlordane residues in human milk". Bull Env Cont Tox. 25: 518-523, 1980.

-Morgan, D.P. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, 3rd Ed. , United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA-540/9-80-005, Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office, January, 1982.

-Poonawalla, N.H. and Korte, F. "Metabolism of insecticides, VIII (I) excretion, distribution and metabolism of a-chlordane-14C by rats", Life Sci. 3: 1497-1500, 1964.

-Seba, D. B. , Mi lam, M. J. and Laseter, J. L. "Uptake, measurement and elimination of synthetic chemicals by man", in Borstoff, J. and Challacombe, S.J. (Eds.), Food Allergy and Intolerance, London: Bailliere Tindall, 1987.

-Tocci , P. M. , Mann , J. B. , Davies, J. E. , Edmundson, W. F. "Biochemical differences found in persons chronically exposed to high levels of pesticides", Ind Med. 38: 40-47, 1969.