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Information on how the now
banned pesticide chlordane
is still harming the health
of millions of people in the
United States and other
countries today.
Doctors and scientists who
are knowledgeable on the
chlordane problem state
millions of adults and
children are becoming sick
by living in homes built
before April, 1988 (the
period when chlordane,
originally developed by
Monsanto, was allowed to be
used). Chlordane
contaminates the air of over
30 million U.S. homes by
diffusion through concrete
flooring - ceiling drywall -
or outgassing from
previously treated indoor
areas. Documented health
problems can include child
cancers, neuroblastoma,
leukemia, chronic
infections, bronchitis,
asthma, sinusitis,
infertility, neurological
disorders, aggression and
depression.
Unfortunately, due to the
lack of obvious odor or
easily administered test,
most occupants are unaware
this pesticide is in the
indoor air they are
breathing hour after hour.
Chlordane's History
Chlordane was the pesticide
used to prevent or eliminate
termites during the 1950's,
60's, 70's and 80's.
However, after many reports
of serious illness among
both adults and children
following its application
and links to cancer in
animals, chlordane was
finally banned by the EPA in
March of 1988.
Unfortunately, the ban did
not take place until over 30
million homes throughout the
U.S. had been treated.
Concerns in Florida are even
greater because of the
increased termite problem
and the fact that research
shows chlordane is higher in
homes built on sandy soils.
Most homeowners are unaware
that just before the
concrete slab was poured for
their home's foundation, a
pesticide company had come
in and saturated the soil
with 100 gallons of
chlordane per 1000 square
feet of area. People were
literally building their
homes on top of a toxic
chemical dump. The public
was reassured by the
pesticide industry and
entomologists that this was
a safe procedure and that
the chemical would not enter
into the home because of the
barrier provided by the
cement foundation. However,
this turned out not to be
the case.
Homes Remain Contaminated
For Decades
Chlordane is such a highly
toxic and persistent
chemical that homes treated
20-30 years ago are still
showing unsafe levels of
chlordane in the indoor air.
The problem occurs because
the hundreds of gallons of
chlordane underneath the
home are slowly evaporating,
rising through cracks in the
foundation or around
plumbing pipes and entering
the home. One of the first
studies to find there was a
problem came in the 1970's
when the U.S. Air Force
randomly tested over 500
apartments and housing units
of its airmen. Results
showed approximately 75% of
the units tested contained
chlordane in the air and
over 5% were above the
National Academy of Sciences
"safety guidelines" of 5
micrograms per cubic meter
of air (1).
Unfortunately, this is
turning out not to be an
isolated case. Further
studies by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental
Regulation and other
agencies have found similar
results in hundreds of homes
in New Jersey and New York.
Of great concern, when
testing 64 homes built
before 1980, researchers
found more than 30% of the
homes contained chlordane
levels above the 5 microgram
safety limit set by the
National Academy of Sciences
(2).
Illnesses Linked To
Chlordane Home Exposure
There are now several
university studies showing
even so-called acceptable
levels of chlordane in
indoor air can cause
respiratory and neurological
problems. These are outlined
by sections below:
Families in apartment
complex treated with
chlordane show increases in
sinusitis, bronchitis,
migraines, cough & anemia
JOURNAL:
Bulletin of Environmental
Contamination Toxicology,
39:903 (1987)
A study of 261 people who
were either living or had
lived in homes with higher
air chlordane levels were
found to have nearly
three-times more respiratory
illnesses, including
sinusitis (infection of the
sinuses) and bronchitis. The
study, conducted at the
School of Public Health,
University of Illinois, also
found other illnesses
significantly more often in
the chlordane homes. These
included chronic cough,
anemia, neuritis,
ovarian/uterine disease and
skin disorders. The migraine
headaches, which was the
worst acute symptom found,
was occurring in 22% of
people living in the higher
level chlordane homes.
An important point of this
study is that researchers
divided the 261 people into
three groups based on the
level of chlordane found in
their homes. These included:
-
LOW EXPOSURE
(under 1 microgram of
chlordane per cubic
meter of air in the
home)
-
MEDIUM EXPOSURE
(1-5 micrograms of
chlordane per cubic
meter of air in the
home)
-
HIGH EXPOSURE
(over 5 micrograms of
chlordane per cubic
meter of air in the
home)
Separating people into these
groups is done in order to
look for what is called a
"dose-response" effect,
which strongly suggests that
the chemical is in fact
causing the illnesses. A
dose-response effect means
that as the amount of
chlordane in the air
increases, we would also see
a corresponding increase in
health problems. This is in
fact, exactly what the
researchers stated they had
found. In conclusion, Dr.
Clark stated,
"The finding of a
dose-response
relationship between the
indoor air
concentrations of
chlordane and three
self-reported chronic
health conditions
(migraine, sinusitis,
and bronchitis) suggests
that chlordane could
have chronic human
health impacts. The
association between
chlordane and migraine
and bronchitis is
consistent with previous
reports of these
symptoms in chlordane
poisoning or incident
cases. Aplastic and
acute refractory
megaloblastic anemia and
effects on the female
reproductive system have
also been associated
with chlordane and/or
heptachlor exposure. In
our study, half the
homes judged to have had
a proper termiticide
application had
detectable air levels of
chlordane, an average of
2.7 micrograms per cubic
meter, months to years
following the last
application... The
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency has often
considered lifetime
cancer risks exceeding
one in a million as
unacceptable. An air
level of less than 0.1
micrograms per cubic
meter, which appears
unachievable, may need
to be required to have
cancer risks within an
acceptable range. On
August 11, 1987, on the
basis of new evaluations
regarding the safety of
the cyclodiene
termiticides, EPA
announced the
cancellation of
virtually all
termiticide uses of
chlordane, heptachlor,
aldrin and dieldrin."
This study was reported
by Dr. J. Milton Clark,
Ph.D.
School of Pubic Health,
University of Illinois (3).
Breast Cancer Linked to
Chlordane Exposure
JOURNAL:
Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment,
90:55-64 (2005)
One in eight women in the
United States will develop
breast cancer according to
the latest statistics.
Breast cancer rates in the
U.S. are 3-7 times higher
than those in Asia. This
2005 study conducted at the
US Army Institute of
Surgical Research and Texas
Tech University Health
Science Center in Lubbock
Texas found that cancerous
human breast tissue
contained the chemical
heptachlor epoxide (found in
the common home pesticide
chlordane) at levels 4 times
higher than non-cancerous
breast tissue. Chlordane
was the primary termite
prevention pesticide used in
over 30 million U.S. homes
between the mid 1950's and
1988. An estimated 50
million U.S. residents are
currently exposed to the
volatization of this
chemical from previously
treated pre-1989 homes on a
daily basis.
Dr. Richard A. Cassidy,
Sridhar, George M. Vaughan
Tox Free, Inc., Tell City,
IN
Texas Tech University Health
Science Center, Lubbock, TX
US Army Institute of
Surgical Research
Immune System Damage &
Autoimmune Problems
JOURNAL:
Archives of
Environmental Health,
43(5):349-352 (1988)
An excellent test to
determine how well a
person's immune system is
functioning is called "proliferative
response." This test
measures how fast a person's
immune system cells multiply
in order to eliminate
invading bacteria or
viruses. In several
different tests of
proliferative response,
conducted at the Southern
Illinois School of Medicine,
it was found that people
living in chlordane treated
homes had immune system
cells that multiplied only
about half as fast as immune
system cells of people not
exposed to chlordane. (This
provides an explanation for
the increase in infections
shown in the previous
study.) In another immune
system test conducted by the
same scientists, eleven of
twelve chlordane exposed
people were found to have a
condition known as
autoimmunity. This is where
the person's own immune
system mistakenly attacks
their own self, which the
researchers stated can then
result in a variety of other
illnesses.
Immune System Macrophages
Paralyzed By Chlordane
JOURNAL:
Agents & Actions Journal,
37:140-146 (1992)
The pesticide chlordane is
showing a strong tendency to
seriously weaken the body's
ability to fight cancer
cells. Macrophages are one
of the most important immune
system cells which organize
the attack against bacteria,
viruses and cancer. However,
in tests conducted at the
Department of Immunology at
the University of Arkansas,
it was found that when mice
were exposed to chlordane,
their macrophages were
almost entirely paralyzed in
the ability to destroy
cancer cells for 24 hours
after exposure (5).
Fatigue, Depression,
Anger, Memory, Concentration
Probs.
All Caused by Chlordane
Exposure
JOURNAL:
Bulletin of Environmental
Contamination Toxicology,
39:903 (1987)
In June-September 1994, 216
adult occupants or former
residents of an apartment
complex which had its
exterior surfaces treated
with chlordane were examined
by researchers at the
University of Southern
California School of
Medicine (6). The 109 women
and 97 men were given a
battery of neurological
tests to determine if the
low levels of chlordane in
their apartments was causing
any harmful effects. The
tests given are considered
sensitive indicators of
neurotoxicity. To determine
if chlordane was in fact
causing neurological
problems, the test scores of
the chlordane exposed adults
were compared to the test
scores of 94 women and 68
men from Houston, known not
to have been exposed to
chlordane.
Results of the testing
showed many harmful effects
upon mental function from
the low levels of air
chlordane. Not only were
their test scores
significantly lower for
reaction time, balance, and
memory, but the testing also
showed significant increases
in attention deficits,
tension, depression, anger
and fatigue
In conclusion, Dr. Kaye
Kilburn stated,
"The exposure of
our study group appears
to be from indoor air,
due to the outgassing of
chlordane from the
wooden surfaces of the
apartment complex....
Chlordane is a
chlorinated cyclodiene
insecticide introduced
in 1948 and considered
to act as a toxicant
with many of the signs
and symptoms of
poisoning like those
produced by DDT... It is
tragic that exposure is
still occurring to a
material that the
National Research
Council in 1982
characterized as a
hazard at any dose: it
could not determine a
level of exposure to any
of the cyclodiene
termiticides below which
there would be no
biological effect. Every
effort should be made to
minimize exposure
(29:p.164). Also in 1986
the EPA reported that
chlordane was the most
frequently misused or
misapplied of the
termiticides... As of
1987 under an agreement
with EPA, the
manufacturer Velsicol
ceased to sell chlordane
for consumer use in the
United States, although
the company was still
licensed to export it.
It is regrettable that
chlordane was applied
around and on 30 million
or more homes in the
United States before the
ban."
Asthma, Allergies,
Bronchitis and Cough
Linked to Chlordane Homes
JOURNAL:
Bulletin of Environmental
Contamination Toxicology,
39:903 (1987)
Along with the neurological
problems found among people
living in chlordane treated
homes in the previous study
at the University of
Southern California, the
researchers also found
significant increases in
many other health symptoms
among the families living in
the chlordane homes. These
included significant
increases in allergies,
cough, bronchitis, wheezing,
asthma and shortness of
breath at rest and while
walking and climbing stairs.
Neuroblastoma & Leukemia
After Chlordane Exposure
JOURNAL:
Teratogenesis,
Carcinogenesis, and
Mutagenesis, 7:527-540
(1987)
Chlordane has also been
linked to causing
neuroblastoma and leukemia
in children along with other
blood abnormalities. Severe
anemia and leukemia
developed in a baby girl
following home termite
treatment. The case was
settled in the California
Superior Court (1975). Five
cases of brain cancer were
also reported to develop in
children following prenatal
or postnatal chlordane
exposure.
A 1987 study at the School
of Public Health, University
of Illinois Medical Center,
reported 25 new cases of
various blood problems with
the majority occurring
following chlordane termite
treatment. These included
more examples of leukemias
and anemias (8).
In a study reported by
Velsicol (the manufacturer
of chlordane), it was found
that when monkeys were
exposed for 90 days to air
chlordane levels of 100
micrograms per cubic meter
of air, they were more
likely to develop a
condition known as
leukopenia (9), which means
their disease fighting white
blood cells dropped to a
dangerously low number.
Leukopenia often predisposes
an individual to increased
colds, flu, and infections.
Levels of 250 micrograms per
cubic meter of air chlordane
have been reported in some
chlordane treated homes,
which is two and one-half
times higher than the level
causing leukopenia in the
animals.
Chlordane exposure has also
been linked to causing an
increase in leukemias among
agricultural workers. 1,084
death certificates of
leukemia cases among
Nebraska residents during
the years 1957-1974 were
matched with 2,168 deaths
from other causes. These
farmers exhibited a
considerably higher risk of
acute leukemia in counties
where corn was grown in
large quantities (10).
Similarly, death
certificates from Iowa for
1,675 white males over the
age of 30 years who died of
leukemia were investigated
for possible causes of the
cancer. Iowa farmers had a
higher risk for lymphatic
leukemia in counties where
there was extensive
production of corn and soy
bean. There was also an
association of death from
leukemia with the amount of
corn produced per acre.
During the period of these
studies, one of the major
agricultural uses of
chlordane was on corn crops.
JOURNAL TITLE: Leukemias and
Blood Dyscrasias Following
Exposure to Chlordane and
Heptachlor
Liver Damage Results from
Chlordane Exposure
SOURCE:
Science News,
November 24, 1984.
The human liver appears to
also be vulnerable to damage
from exposure to chlordane.
After a 48 year-old woman
had her home treated for
termites with chlordane, she
developed symptoms of
nausea, sore throat and
chest discomfort. Her
medical history showed no
signs of previous health
problems. Blood tests found
low levels of chlordane in
the woman's blood. Indoor
air testing of the woman's
home was then performed
which found high airborne
levels of heptachlor (a
breakdown contaminant of
chlordane).
Follow-up blood tests of the
woman, conducted monthly,
showed abnormal liver
function indicators that
"track exactly with the
levels of pesticide in her
blood," stated Dr.
Alexander, who as a
physician had been
clinically involved in the
case. Even though the levels
of heptachlorepoxide (the
form stored in the body)
never exceeded 3 parts per
billion in blood, Dr.
Alexander stated, "We're
now able to say that she has
a mild chemical
hepatitis-representing liver
damage, caused by these
pesticides.."
Male and Female
Infertility Increasing Past
50 Years
Evidence Chlordane Could Be
Part of the Problem
Several biological problems
affecting the male testicles
have been occurring with
greater frequency over the
past 50 years. The summary
of the problem, which
appeared in the 1993
journal, Environmental
Health Perspectives(13),
discussed the observed rise
in testicular cancer and the
medical conditions
hypospadias and
cryptorchidism, as well as
the apparent declining sperm
count among the overall male
population. Hypospadias is
when the testicles do not
descend and cryptorchidism
is when the opening to the
penis appears on the
underside of the penis.
According to the researchers
at the Statistical Research
Unit, University of
Copenhagen, Denmark, cancer
of the male testicles has
increased over 3-fold from
1940 to 1980. The frequency
of hypospadias (the opening
of the penis on the
underside) in England has
doubled from 0.15% in 1964
to 0.36% in 1983. Similar
increases were also reported
from Sweden and Hungary.
Recent British data also
detected a near doubling of
cryptorchidism. This problem
has risen from 1.6% of the
boys born in the 1950's to
2.9% born in the late
1970's.
The researchers also
performed a detailed survey
of the international
literature on sperm and
semen levels published
between 1930 and 1991.
Compiling information from
over 61 papers and 14,947
males, indicated a
significant decline in
average sperm density form
113 million per milliliter
in 1940 to 66 million per
milliliter in 1990. The mean
semen volume also declined
from 3.40 milliliters to
2.75 milliliters (a nearly
20% drop). This means that
the total sperm count
decreased even more than
that expressed by sperm
density.
These figures show that men
are producing only about
half as much sperm per
ejaculation today as they
did in the 1940's. This
should generate concern as
research has shown that as
sperm count decreases, there
is an increase in the risk
of birth defects,
miscarriages and general
problems with the child.
Therefore, these figures
suggest that we should be
observing a greater number
of health and neurological
problems among our children
due to the connection
between lower sperm count
and lower sperm quality
resulting from exposure of
the male population to
widespread environmental
chemicals.
In conclusion the
researchers stated,
"Recent data
clearly indicate that
the semen quality has
markedly decreased
during the period
1938-1990, and
concomitantly the
incidence of some
genitourinary
abnormalities including
hypospadias, maldescent,
and cancer has
increased. Such a
remarkable increment in
the occurrence of
gonadal abnormalities
over a relatively short
period of time is more
likely to be due to
environmental rather
than genetic factors.
Generally, it is
believed that pollution,
smoking, alcohol, and
sexually transmitted
diseases play a role."
Because of the widespread
contamination of chlordane
in American homes (the
chemical emits vapors for
decades after treatment) and
its link with causing
abnormalities in blood and
childhood blood and brain
cancer, Dr. David Ozonoff,
of the Boston School of
Public Health, stated there
is an "urgent need for
legislation creating a
national program for
monitoring homes known to
have been treated to detect
persistent contamination
with these highly dangerous
pesticides."
This persistent exposure to
the U.S. population raises
serious concerns regarding
the effects of the chemical
upon male and female
fertility. Therefore, it is
important to look at the
research that addresses this
issue.
Infertility Occurs in Male
Test Animals
In the following chlordane
study, researchers divided
mice into three groups of
ten mice each. Two groups
were subjected to either a
low or higher level of
chlordane and the third
group was used as a control
group not exposed to any
chlordane. After 30 days of
daily exposure, the animals
were sacrificed and the
testicles were examined. The
researchers stated that the
chlordane exposed groups
showed obvious changes to
the part of the testicles
where sperm development
occurs (called the
seminiferous tubules).
Damaged tubules were present
in 19% of the lower
chlordane exposed animals-
31% of the higher chlordane
exposed animals and only 3%
in the animals not exposed
to chlordane. There was also
a reduction in the
seminiferous tubule diameter
in the higher chlordane
exposed group.
This research was conducted
by Dr. K. J. Balash and
colleagues at the Biological
Research Center, Scientific
Research Council, Baghdad,
Iraq (13).
How Chlordane Causes
Infertility in Female Test
Animal
JOURNAL:
Toxicology and Applied
Pharmacology, 19:234-246
(1971).
There are several studies
showing female infertility
in test animals increases
after exposure to the
pesticide chlordane. In the
study conducted by Wellcome
Research Laboratories,
Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, scientists
exposed over 100 mice to low
levels of chlordane (25 mg/kg)once
a week for three weeks
before mating and compared
their fertility success with
over 100 mice not exposed to
chlordane before mating. The
experiment was performed
three different times to see
if the results were
consistent. Each time the
results were the same - that
female animals exposed to
chlordane conceived far less
often than females who were
not exposed to chlordane.
In the first experiment,
the results showed 27%
of mice exposed to only corn
oil conceived while only 3%
of mice exposed to chlordane
mixed with corn oil
conceived.
In the second experiment,
the results showed 29% of
the mice exposed to only
corn oil conceived while 19%
of mice exposed to chlordane
mixed with corn oil
conceived.
In the third experiment,
the results showed 50% of
the mice exposed to only
corn oil conceived, while
20% of mice exposed to
chlordane mixed with corn
oil conceived.
To help explain why the
decreases in fertilization
was being observed, the
scientists found that
chlordane exposure was
causing excessive metabolism
in the liver of important
estrogen compounds necessary
for reproduction. In other
words, the chlordane was
actually causing the liver
to remove estrogen at too
rapid a rate, thereby
decreasing its level in the
female body to unusually low
levels. Not only was
fertility success lower, but
it was found that the
uterine weight of the
chlordane exposed animals
was also up to 34% lower.
With approximately 7% of
U.S. homes being tested
showing unsafe levels of
chlordane, it would
certainly be of interest to
determine the air chlordane
levels of homes where
couples were having trouble
conceiving. For more
information on infertility
problems caused by common
environmental chemicals
click -
Infertility Facts.
This study was conducted
by R.M. Welch and colleagues
at the Wellcome Research
Laboratories, Research
Triangle Park, North
Carolina published in the
journal Toxicology and
Applied Pharmacology,
19:234-246 (1971).
Overweight - a Symptom
of Chlordane Exposure
JOURNAL:
Toxicology &
Applied Pharmacology,
126:326-337 (1994)
One unexpected symptom of
chlordane exposure is an
increase in body weight. In
fact, in an experiment of
over 20 test animals
receiving a chlordane
exposure equal to that
sometimes found among the
U.S. population (100 ng/g -
nanograms of chlordane per
gram of body fat) there was
an average 8% increase in
body weight among the
animals. Animals receiving
500 ng/g chlordane exposure
were showing an average 11%
increase in body weight.
Chlordane exposure has been
shown to reduce by-half the
levels of some hormones in
female test animals,
however, scientists are
unsure if this is the actual
reason for the weight gain
being observed or if it is
due to another reason such
as changes in the areas of
the brain which control body
weight. This raises the
question of whether the same
symptom may be occurring
among residents living in
chlordane homes built before
March of 1988.
Richard A. Cassidy, Ph.D.,
Charles V. Vorhees, Daniel
J. Minnema, Lloyd Hastings
U.S. Army Institute of
Surgical Research, Fort Sam,
Houston, Texas
Division of Basic Science
Research, Children's
Hospital Research Foundation
Department of Pediatrics,
University of Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, Ohio
Teachers and Students
Develop Illness -
High school found to contain
high levels of chlordane
SOURCE: E-Magazine
Andrew Jackson High School
finally closed in May 1989.
However, it took 4 years of
student and teacher
complaints about persistent
fatigue, headaches and
respiratory problems to find
the cause.. The reason for
the closing was that
investigators were finally
called in from NIOSH
(National Institute of
Occupational Safety and
Health) and found air
chlordane levels in the
school at levels eleven
times higher than the
National Academy of Sciences
(NAS) safety limit.
The testing of other schools
for chlordane has sometimes
been a little more
difficult. East Fairmont
High School in West Virginia
was also having its own
problems with sick-building
syndrome. Students and
teachers complained of
headaches, rashes and
tremors. The parents hired
their own private
toxicologist, Dr. Robert
Simon, to perform tests. He
found several pesticides
including chlordane and
concluded that the school
needed an extensive
hazardous waste clean-up.
The Marion County Board of
Education followed by hiring
a law firm to put together
another group to retest the
school. This time it found
lower levels of the
chemicals. The board then
hired two independent
consultants to analyze both
test results, they concluded
that there was nothing
hazardous at the school. It
was recommended only to
clean the art room,
cafeteria and kitchen as a
matter of "good housekeeping
and hygiene." Although the
board maintained that the
school never posed a health
risk, it authorized a
clean-up in August 1991 that
cost $15,000.
Some parents were still
upset. They alleged that two
other firms were hired and
then fired by the school
board when they found the
school to be unsafe. The
parents and teachers still
wanted a third test to be
done by a federal agency
such as NIOSH. Although such
testing wouldn't cost the
district anything, the
school board would not agree
to it. As a result, five
lawsuits were filed against
the board and more were
expected.
REFERENCES
-
New York State Health
Department, Bureau of
Toxic Substances
Assessment: Testimony on
proposed amendments to
termiticide regulations,
May 24, 1984(also
reported in
Teratogenesis,
Carcinogenesis, and
Mutagenesis, Volume 7,
page 537, (1987)
-
Bulletin of
Environmental
Contamination
Toxicology, 27:406
(1981)
-
Archives of
Environmental Health,
43(5):349-352 (1988)
-
Archives of
Environmental Health,
47(4):295-301 (1992)
-
-
Scandinavian Journal
of Work & Environmental
Health, 4:137-150(1978)
Blood Dyscrasias and
Childhood Tumors And
Exposure To Chlordane
and Heptachlor.
-
-
Huntingdon Research
Laboratories: Chlordane:
A Ninety-Day Inhalation
Toxicity Study in the
Rat and the Monkey.
Unpublished report to
the Velsicol Company,
June 1984 (also reported
in Teratogenesis,
Carcinogenesis and
Mutagenesis, Volume 7,
page 535, 1987)
-
American J of
Epidemiology,
109:309-319 (1979),
Blair A, Thomas T.L.:
Leukemia among Nebraska
farmers: A death
certificate study.
-
American Journal of
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