Organochlorine Insecticides

Organochlorine Insecticides (OC or chlorinated hydrocarbons) were the first synthetically produced insecticides used on a large scale in production agriculture and in other areas of insect control.  Representatives of this rather diverse chemical class include DDT, toxaphene, endosulfan, chlordane, mirex, lindane (BHC), and the cyclodienes (e.g., heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin).  OC insecticides are generally broad spectrum, affecting sodium channels within the nervous system of insects.  The general public generally believes that DDT and other organochlorine insecticides are acutely toxic to humans and other non-target organisms, but in reality, the biggest problem with these compounds is their negative effects on the environment.  OC insecticides are generally persistent and tend to bioaccumulate in the ecosystem, being stored and concentrated within food chains, and having chronic toxicological impacts on non-target organisms.  Thus, most organochlorine pesticides have been banned from use.  However, because they were the first highly-effective insecticides, they are an important component of insect control history.

The evolution of insect resistance to organochlorine insecticides demonstrated the potential risks of relying solely on insecticides for pest control.  However, the use of DDT and similar compounds for control of disease vectoring insects has saved countless lives.  Worldwide, several of organochlorines are still important today.  Chlordane is excellent for protecting wood from termites but is banned in the United States.