What is heptachlor epoxide?
Sarah Duran
Updated on May 19, 2026
What is heptachlor epoxide?
Heptachlor epoxide is a man-made compound that looks like a white powder. Heptachlor epoxide is created when a substance called heptachlor is released to the environment and mixes with oxygen.
Why is heptachlor banned?
Nearly all registered uses of heptachlor were canceled in 1974 by EPA because of its potential cancer risk and its persistence and bioaccumulation throughout the food chain (EPA 1986a). The sale of heptachlor was voluntarily canceled in 1987 by its sole U.S. manufacturer, the Velsicol Chemical Corporation.
What is heptachlor used for?
Heptachlor was used as a soil and seed treatment and for termite control. Since 1992, the use of heptachlor has been limited to treatment of fire ants near utility equipment. Both pesticides can remain in treated soils, in agricultural runoff water, and near factories where they were manufactured.
Is heptachlor still used?
Heptachlor was used as an insecticide; however, nearly all registered uses of heptachlor have been canceled.
In what form does heptachlor is commonly spread?
Another route of exposure is through inhalation. When heptachlor is deposited into the soil, it becomes heptachlor epoxide, which then spreads into the air. As a result, workers who use heptachlor to kill termites are potentially susceptible to inhaling heptachlor epoxide from the air (2).
How is heptachlor made?
Analogous to the synthesis of other cyclodienes, heptachlor is produced via the Diels-Alder reaction of hexachlorocyclopentadiene and cyclopentadiene.
Where does the rotenone come from?
Rotenone is a naturally occurring complex ketone, derived from the roots of Lonchocarpus species (Uversky, 2004). It is a commonly used pesticide and is also used in lakes and reservoirs to kill fish that are perceived as pests.
What is the chemical formula for heptachlor?
C10H5Cl7
Heptachlor/Formula
Where can rotenone be found?
Rotenone is an odorless, colorless, crystalline isoflavone used as a broad-spectrum insecticide, piscicide, and pesticide. It occurs naturally in the seeds and stems of several plants, such as the jicama vine plant, and the roots of several members of Fabaceae.
How does rotenone enter the body?
Therefore, exposure to rotenone may occur through inhalation, dermal absorption, and the ingestion of fish collected from areas where rotenone has been applied.
How does rotenone inhibit the electron transport chain?
Rotenone, a botanical pesticide, is an inhibitor of one of the enzymes of Complex I of the electron transport chain. In the presence of this insecticide, electrons from NADH cannot enter the electron transport chain, resulting in the an inability to produce ATP from the oxidation of NADH.
How does rotenone affect glycolysis?
Rotenone lowered glucose by promoting glycolysis and inhibiting hepatic glucose output in vitro. To explore the hypoglycaemic effect of rotenone, anaerobic respiration indicated by lactate release in HepG2 hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes was also measured (n = 4–8/group).