Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are synthetic chemicals comprising a variety of compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine; they are widely used around the world. These compounds can be highly toxic, and some agents—such as DDT—have been banned in the United States because of their unacceptably slow degradation. OCP’s are hydrophobic, lipophilic, and extremely stable. Once in air, water, and soil, they are subject to global deposition processes and bioaccumulation in the food chain. Diet is the main source of human exposure, primarily through food consumption where OCPs have bioaccumulated.
United States
