Facts About Illinois' Chlordane Advisory

This fact sheet answers questions about the public health risks associated with exposure to chlordane in fish. It also explains how you can reduce exposure to chlordane.

Chlordane is a man-made pesticide used in the United States from 1948 to 1988. It is a thick liquid that has a mild, irritating smell. In 1983, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) banned all uses of chlordane except to kill termites because of concern about damage to the environment and harm to human health. In 1988, all uses of chlordane in the U.S. were banned.

Chlordane was used as a pesticide on crops, lawns, and gardens, and to control termites. It entered bodies of water after improper waste disposal or from run-off from treated areas. Chlordane binds strongly to soil and sediments where it can stay for more than 20 years. It breaks down very slowly in the environment.

Chlordane doesn’t dissolve easily in water. It builds up in the fatty tissues of fish, birds, and mammals that live near contaminated sediment and eat contaminated food such as smaller fish.

Fish advisories are issued to protect the most sensitive populations from adverse health effects. Studies have shown that exposure to chlordane can cause adverse health effects in fetuses, nursing babies, and children younger than 15 years of age.

Laboratory tests in animals have shown long-term exposure to high doses of chlordane causes adverse health effects, including liver damage, reproductive damage, and developmental damage. Chlordane affects the nervous system, the digestive system, and the liver in people and animals. It is not known whether chlordane affects the ability of people to have children or whether it causes birth defects. Animals exposed before birth or while nursing have later developed behavioral effects. The USEPA classifies chlordane as a probable human carcinogen. This means that chlordane has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals, but there is not enough data to determine if chlordane causes cancer in humans.

Yes. Chlordane is easily absorbed by the body and is stored in fatty tissue. It is eliminated slowly from the body; complete elimination can take many years. Since chlordane is not eliminated well, it can build up over time in the kidneys and liver.

Exposure can be reduced by following the Illinois Department of Public Health’s fish consumption advisories. In addition, people can reduce their intake of chlordane by removing the skin and fatty areas from fish fillets. Do not fry fish. Instead, barbecue, broil, or bake fish on an elevated rack that allows fat to drip away. You also can poach fish if you discard the broth.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the fish sold in grocery stores. FDA has a testing program to sample some of the fish that is sold, but not all of the fish are tested. You should follow the advice for preparing and cooking fish to reduce your exposure to chlordane.

Chlordane stays in the environment for a long time, but it is unlikely to contaminate surface water because it is insoluble in water and quickly binds to soil particles. Therefore, contact with, or accidental swallowing of the water will result in minimal exposure to chlordane.

Chlordane is no longer used in the U.S. Other, less toxic, pesticides are being applied to kill termites, agricultural pests, and home garden pests. As time passes, less chlordane will be present in the environment.

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Environmental Health
525 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761

217-782-5830
TTY (hearing impaired use only) 800-547-0466

DPH.Tox@illinois.gov