Case Study on Chlordane Toxicity

Running head: TOXICOLOGY 1
Case Study on Chlordane Toxicity
Student
Institutional affiliation

TOXICOLOGY 2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background Information..................................................................................................................3
Chlordane Exposure........................................................................................................................4
Chlordane Toxicity......................................................................................................................4
Occupational Exposures...............................................................................................................8
Management of Chlordane Exposure...........................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11

TOXICOLOGY 3
Introduction
The role played by environmental and occupational health is disregarded, and people tend
to equate their occupational ill health with the vast factories and industrialization in metropolitan
areas. This narrow perspective has hampered the formulation of compressive environment and
occupational health particular in developing nations. The recent past has seen an intensification
in the cases of public health issues resulting from unintentional poisoning. Poisoning is taking
place at both occupational and environmental levels. According to the United States Centre for
Environmental Research Information (2017), an estimated 350000 people perished worldwide as
a result of unintentional poisoning. Therefore, this is a critical concern health wise given the
implications it has in terms of health and lives lost. People work in different areas. While at
work, they get exposed to an assortment of hazards. Many occupational and health experts have
agreed that the rate of exposure to hazards is directly proportional to the type of work,
environment—chemical, ergonomic settings, and biological agents. This paper evaluates
problem-solving toxicology case studies that are related to environmental and occupational
health hazards. It delves on acute and chronic chlordane toxicity, understanding well-known
factors contribution to toxicity and valuation of environmental and occupational exposure.
Background Information
According to Franklin and Joseph (2013), chlordane belongs to a group of compounds
that are chemically referred to as chlorinated cyclodienes. Chlordane is available in both pure
and technical grades based on the intended use. Chlordane is used to as an insecticide and
pesticide especially termiticide (Environmental Research Laboratory, 2012). In terms of its
physical characteristics, chlordane when pure is colorless, viscous and odorless liquid. At room

TOXICOLOGY 4
temperature (25 degrees Celsius) chlordane is exceedingly soluble in most carbon-based solvents
such as hydrocarbons of petroleum (Clement International Corporation & United States, 2015).
Emulsifiable concentrate of chlordane—commonly known as technical chlordane—is
sold for use in water as suspension which can be spayed. Chlordane is also available in powder
form which is normally adulterated with mineral specks of dust such as talc (Clement
International Corporation., & United States, 2015). Chlordane was first produced in 1947
commercially for pesticide manufacturing.
Chlordane has a variety of uses, particularly in insect and pest control. Based on Franklin
and Joseph (2011), Chlordane is an active constituent in most household and garden pesticides.
The chemical has been mainly used in the manufacture of chemicals that are used in the
eradication of termites around the foundations of houses. Additionally, chlordane is used to
control insects and pests in corn fields (Environmental Research Laboratory, 2012).
Chlordane Exposure
Most of the people who get exposed to chlordane say it happens via active inhalation.
Odorless is one of the physical characteristics of chlordane. Chlordane has low vapor pressure at
room temperatures (David & Jagdish, 2017). However, in hot conditions chlordane volatilizes.
Give it odorless property most people get exposed to it without adequate warning. Inhalation also
happens when a chlordane solvent vaporizes. Chlordane is absorbed rapidly via the skin leading
to systematic toxicity. This is because the skin has oils that aid in absorption. Direct ingestion of
chlordane has acute toxic effects, among them death (Levy, 2014).
Chlordane Toxicity