What is heptachlor?
Heptachlor is a mixture of synthetic chemicals widely used as an insecticide in the United States (U.S.). Heptachlor and its partial breakdown product heptachlor epoxide, are resistant to being broken down in the environment and can still be found in some soils. Some of the common trade names of heptachlor sold in the U.S. were Fennotox, Cupincida, Velsicol 104 and Biarbinex. These products were mixtures and included chlordane, another persistent insecticide that is no longer in use. Similarly, the chlordane used to treat buildings for termites contained 10-20% heptachlor (see BCERF Fact Sheet #11, Pesticides and Breast Cancer Risk, An Evaluation of Chlordane). What is the history of heptachlor’s use? Heptachlor was used extensively from the 1950s through the mid-1970s in agriculture to protect corn, grain seeds, sorghum, pineapple and other fruit crops from insect pests, and to control insects in the soil. During this time, it was also applied to the foundations of homes and buildings
