A handbook of environmental toxicology: human disorders and ecotoxicology.

Chapter 16 (Page no: 233)

Organochlorine insecticides: neurotoxicity.

Organochlorine insecticides have an extensive history in the mitigation and control of insect populations in agricultural as well as residential and personal settings. Their utility was defined by unique characteristics that rendered these compounds highly toxic to insects, coupled with a persistence and chemical stability that allowed them long-lasting effects after application. Unfortunately, these same traits that made them so powerful led to their eventual demise as the health and well-being of the ecosystem, especially the human population, became a critical consequence of organochlorine insecticides. In the past several decades, these health concerns have been repeatedly addressed through population-based as well as laboratory studies that have focused on the neurological effects of chronic exposure. These evaluations have been extended to include pre- and postnatal exposures as these represent critical periods of children's neurodevelopment. The persistence of these chemicals ensures their continued legacy in our environment and our bodies, necessitating a concerted effort to better understand the neurological impact of these exposures.

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