Methoxychlor

Definition of methoxychlor: Methoxychlor is a chlorinated methoxyphenylethane used as an insecticide whose activity is due to either contact with or ingestion by the targeted pest. This is the common definition for methoxychlor, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

The use of methoxychlor as a pesticide ceased in most countries around 1990. In Germany and Belgium use continued until 1995 and 2000. In the European Union its use has been phased out since 2003.

Methoxychlor doesn't evaporate much, it has a low water solubility (maw 0,1 mg/l) and it adsorbs to particles. In aerobe conditions it's not degradable, it is however under anaerobe conditions. Methoxychlor is very toxic, concentrations of 0,8 are lethal to some zooplankton species, while fish die at concentrations above 50 µg/l. For marine mammals and sea birds it is considered to be less toxic. However, methoxychlor is expected to a endocrine disrupting compound and might therefore affect these animals at low concentrations. It has a high tendency towards bioaccumulation and biomagnification. This, although fish seem to be able to metabolize methoxychlor.

There is little or no information available on the occurrence of methoxychlor in the marine environment.

Environmental standards and legislation

Included in the OSPAR list of substances of priority action (as hexachlorocyclohexane)

See also

OSPAR background document on methoxychlor

Methoxychlor on the ED North Database