Endosulfan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Endosulfan is a cyclodiene insecticide with the formula C9H6Cl6O3S, also used under the names thionex, thiodan, and benzoepin. It is usually sprayed in the agricultural setting to protect crops and can also be used as a wood preservative. Endosulfan does not dissolve easily in water, but sticks to particles or soil. It breaks down slowly and may accumulate in organisms that are exposed to it. It is toxic to workers when improperly handled and can disrupt wildlife. It is neurotoxic to rats in the laboratory setting, and considered to be an endocrine disruptor, a xenoestrogen.
Its CAS number is [] and its SMILES structure is ClC1(C(Cl)2Cl)C(COS(OC3)=O)C3C2(Cl)C(Cl)=C1Cl.
The EPA recommends not more than 74 ppb (part per billion) in lakes, streams, or rivers, and not more than 0.1 – 2 ppm (parts per million) on surfaces of agricultural products (except dried tea, <24 ppm). Consumers are advised to wash agricultural products before their consumption.
In 2001, in Kerala, India, endosulfan spraying became suspect when linked to a series of abnormalities noted in local children. Initially endosulfan was banned, yet under pressure from the pesticide industry this ban was largely revoked. Achyuthan A studied the effects of the spraying.
