Chlordane: A Homeowner's
Nightmare
Information provided by
www.chem-tox.com
75% of U.S. Homes
Contaminated
with Chlordane
New research shows that people living in homes built before April of
1988 are most likely breathing the pesticide chlordane each minute they are in the house.
In fact, research by the U.S. Air Force and the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Regulation has found in tests of over 1000 homes that approximately 75% contain chlordane
in the indoor air and 7% are over the maximum safe levels according to government
guidelines. These figures are suspected of being the same throughout the U.S.
Although there have been a number of lawsuits and settlements regarding chlordane
contaminated homes, financial settlements are contingent upon the homeowners saying
nothing to the media regarding the problem. This keeps the rest of the public in the
dark and allows the problem to continue.
Chlordane's History
Chlordane was the pesticide used to prevent or eliminate termites
during the 1950's, 60's, 70's and 80's. However, after many reports of serious illness
among both adults and children following its application and links to cancer in animals,
chlordane was finally banned by the EPA in March of 1988. Unfortunately, the ban did not
take place until over 30 million homes throughout the U.S. had been treated. Concerns in
Florida are even greater because of the increased termite problem and the fact that
research shows chlordane is higher in homes built on sandy soils.
Most homeowners are unaware that just before the concrete slab was poured for their home's
foundation, a pesticide company had come in and saturated the soil with 100 gallons of
chlordane per 1000 square feet of area. People were literally building their homes on top
of a toxic chemical dump. The public was reassured by the pesticide industry and
entomologists that this was a safe procedure and that the chemical would not enter into
the home because of the barrier provided by the cement foundation. However, this turned
out not to be the case.
Homes Remain Contaminated For
Decades
Chlordane is such a highly toxic and persistent chemical that homes
treated 20-30 years ago are still showing unsafe levels of chlordane in the indoor air.
The problem occurs because the hundreds of gallons of chlordane underneath the home are
slowly evaporating, rising through cracks in the foundation or around plumbing pipes and
entering the home. One of the first studies to find there was a problem came in the 1970's
when the U.S. Air Force randomly tested over 500 apartments and housing units of its
airmen. Results showed approximately 75% of the units tested contained chlordane in the
air and over 5% were above the National Academy of Sciences "safety guidelines"
of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (1).
Unfortunately, this is turning out not to be an isolated case.
Further studies by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Regulation and other
agencies have found similar results in hundreds of homes in New Jersey and New York. Of
great concern, when testing 64 homes built before 1980, researchers found more than 30% of
the homes contained chlordane levels above the 5 microgam safety limit set by the National
Academy of Sciences (2).
Chlordane Information Website Index -
Details on health problems caused by chlordane treated homes.
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