Toxaphene is a mixture of chlorinated compounds that was widely used as an insecticide and pesticide in agriculture and forestry from the 1940s to the 1980s. It was also used in the production of rubber, as a sheep dip, and as a seed protectant. Toxaphene is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) and is considered to be a highly toxic and persistent chemical that can have adverse effects on human health and the environment.
Toxaphene is composed of over 670 individual chemical compounds, the majority of which are polychlorinated terpenes. It was banned by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1990, due to its negative effects on human health and the environment.
Exposure to Toxaphene can cause a range of health effects, including neurological effects, liver damage, and cancer. Toxaphene is also toxic to wildlife and can accumulate in the food chain, potentially harming both terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
Due to its persistence and potential to bioaccumulate, Toxaphene is considered to be a major environmental and health concern and continues to be monitored and regulated by various organizations worldwide.
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