What are Mirex & Chlordecone?
CAS#: Mirex 002385-85-5;
Chlordecone 000143-50-5
Mirex and chlordecone are two separate, but chemically similar,
manufactured insecticides that do not occur naturally in the
environment. Mirex is a white crystalline solid, and chlordecone
is a tan-white crystalline solid. Both chemicals are odorless.
Mirex and chlordecone have not been manufactured or used
in the United States since 1978. Mirex was used to control fire
ants, and as a flame retardant in plastics, rubber, paint, paper,
and electrical goods from 1959 to 1972. Chlordecone was used
as an insecticide on tobacco, ornamental shrubs, bananas, and
citrus trees, and in ant and roach traps. Mirex was sold as
a flame retardant under the trade name Dechlorane, and chlordecone
was also known as Kepone. Use of trade names is for identification
only and does not imply endorsement by the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, the Public Health Service,
or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Related Resources for Mirex & Chlordecone
-
CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substance
Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their
frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at
National Priorities List (NPL) sites.
- Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
- National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental
Chemicals
Provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S.
population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
-
Public Health Statement
Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One
of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
-
ToxFAQ
Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions
about a contaminant and its health effects.
-
Toxicological Profile
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for a hazardous substance.