What is toxaphene made of?

What is toxaphene made of?

Toxaphene is made by reacting chlorine gas with a substance called camphene. The resulting product (toxaphene) is a mixture of hundreds of different chlorinated camphenes and related chemicals. Toxaphene was a widely used pesticide on cotton, other crops, and in livestock and poultry.

What is toxaphene used for?

Toxaphene was a widely used pesticide on cotton, other crops, and in livestock and poultry. In 1982, most of its uses were cancelled and in 1990, all uses were cancelled in the United States. The major effect of toxaphene is central nervous system (CNS) stimulation, which results in convulsive seizures.

What type of pesticide is toxaphene?

organochlorine insecticide
Toxaphene is an organochlorine insecticide that is similar to other compounds such as endrin, dieldrin, aldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane, and chlordecone. Manufacturing of toxaphene was started in the 1940s and was highly effective on cotton and certain food crops.

What elements are in toxaphene?

Toxaphene is a manufactured insecticide containing a complex mix ture of at least 670 chemicals, including chlorobornanes, chlorocam phenes, and other bicyclic chloroorganic compounds (ATSDR 1996). The relative proportions of the major components of the pesticide are essentially the same in different formulations.

Why is toxaphene banned?

Tests on lab animals show that toxaphene causes liver and kidney cancer, so the EPA has classified it as a Group B2 carcinogen, meaning it is a probable human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a Group 2B carcinogen.

How can toxaphene harm humans?

Breathing, eating, or drinking high amounts of toxaphene could damage the nervous system, liver, and kidneys, and even cause death. However, since toxaphene is no longer used in the United States, most people would not be exposed to high levels of it.

Is toxaphene a pesticide?

Is toxaphene a contact poison?

The main sources of exposure are through food, drinking water, breathing contaminated air, and direct contact with contaminated soil. Exposure to high levels of toxaphene can cause damage to the lungs, nervous system, liver, kidneys, and in extreme cases, may even cause death.

Is toxaphene still used?

Toxaphene was a widely used pesticide on cotton, other crops, and in livestock and poultry. In 1982, most of its uses were cancelled and in 1990, all uses were cancelled in the United States.

Is toxaphene banned in India?

Toxaphene has been banned in 37 countries, including Austria, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, the EU, India, Ireland, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, Thailand and Tonga.