Isodrin

Isodrin, Isodrin

 Isodrin is a white, crystalline solid with a chemical-like odour that can be both poisonous and flammable.^{1 2} Isodrin is an isomer of aldrin.³

Uses

Isodrin was developed in the 1940’s as a substitute to DDT and its main application was as an insecticide in agriculture and to control malaria spreading mosquitos. The European production reached its peak in the mid-1960’s and ceased in 1990. Today, isodrin is neither produced nor used in Europe or in the USA.^{4 5} Isodrin has never been registered for use in Sweden and has therefore never been banned.^{6 7}

Sources and transportation pathways

Isodrin does not occur naturally in the environment but is released as a result of human activity.⁸ In the atmosphere, it is expected to occur mainly bound to particles and it is spread in the environment through dry and wet deposition. Isodrin is not expected to be mobile in the ground. In water, it is mainly bound to dissolved particles and sediment.^{9 10} It does not easily evaporate and is not easily decomposed in the atmosphere, which results in long-range transport. Isodrin may be bioaccumulated in aquatic organisms and is biomagnified through the foodchain.¹¹

Effects on environment and health

Isodrin is very toxic to aquatic organisms and to humans. Emissions of isodrin result in long-term effects on aquatic organisms. Digestion, inhalation or skin contact with the substance may be lethal to humans.^{12 13}

International agreements and regulations

Isodrin is regulated by the OSPAR Convention¹⁴ and HELCOM¹⁵ as well as by the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the EU regulation on cosmetic products (EC 1223/2009) and the EU CLP Regulation (EC 1272/2008). The EU E-PRTR regulation regulates how data on isodrin emissions is made available.

------------------------------------------------------------- 

¹https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/ISODRIN#section=Experimental-Properties
²https://rib.msb.se/Portal/template/pages/Kemi/Substance.aspx?id=1384&q=isodrin&p=1
³https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/5033
⁴http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Isodrin
⁵http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/ppdb/en/Reports/1535.htm
⁶https://webapps.kemi.se/BkmRegistret/Kemi.Spider.Web.External/Content/Hjalplankar
⁷https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/centrb/ckb/publikationer/wfd_pesticider_050224.pdf
⁸http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/#/pollutantinfo
⁹http://archive.pic.int/view_displayFRA.php?id=509
¹⁰http://www.speclab.com/compound/c465736.htm
¹¹http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Isodrin
¹²https://echa.europa.eu/information-on-chemicals/cl-inventory-database/-/discli/details/46984
¹³https://rib.msb.se/portal/template/pages/kemi/Substance.aspx?id=1384&q=isodrin&p=1
¹⁴https://www.ospar.org/site/assets/files/1290/ospar_convention_e_updated_text_in_2007_no_revs.pdf
¹⁵http://www.helcom.fi/Documents/About%20us/Convention%20and%20commitments/Helsinki%20Convention/Helsinki%20Convention_July%202014.pdf#search=isodrin