Abstract

Organochlorine insecticides are synthetic chemical compounds of broad spectrum whose most prominent property is its high chemical stability, highly fat-soluble and water-insoluble. In these compounds are included those derived from ethanes, which dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is the best known; cyclodienes include: chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, endrin and toxaphene; and the series of Hexachlorocyclohexanes as lindane. Insecticides are marketed in several forms as sprays, powders and liquids. In contact with various media such as oxygen, ultraviolet light and small organisms suffer transformations that give rise to new substances that may be harmful. It is considered that these substances have a relatively acute toxicity, accumulate in the fatty tissue with adverse long-term effects on living things, including humans effects. The purpose of this study aims to highlight the importance and the impact it has had the overuse of organochlorine compounds such as DDT in the environment pollution, plant, and food of animal origin for human consumption, with the potential impact on public health. Key words: organochlorine, environment, public health.

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