Methoxychlor
Definition of methoxychlor:
Methoxychlor is a organochlorine pesticide which works both by contact and ingestion[1].
This is the common definition for methoxychlor, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
| Methoxychlor |
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| Formula |
| C16H15Cl3O2 |
The use of methoxychlor as a pesticide ceased in most countries around 1990. In Germany and Belgium it continued until 1995 and 2000. It has been phased out in the European Union since 2003.
Methoxychlor doesn't evaporate much, it has a low water solubility (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, short exposure to concentrations of 0,8 µg/l is lethal for some zooplankton species, fish die at concentrations above 50 µg/l. For marine mammals and sea birds it is considered to be less toxic. However, methoxychlor is presumed to be a endocrine disrupting compound and might therefore affect these animals at low concentrations.
It has a high tendency towards bioaccumulation and might biomagnify through food chains, although fish seem to be able to metabolize methoxychlor[1].
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
See also
Methoxychlor on the ED North Database
OSPAR background document on methoxychlor
References
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