Chlordecone exposure and adverse effects in French West Indies populations

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4621-5
• Publication Date: 2015-05-04T06:41:04Z
• Authors: Luc Multigner; Philippe Kadhel; Florence Rouget; Pascal Blanchet; Sylvaine Cordier
• Keywords: Martinique; Toxicant

Chlordecone (Kepone) is an organochlorine insecticide that has been used as and fungicide. In the French West Indies, Guadeloupe Martinique, it was intensively applied to banana fields from 1973 1993 control root borers. This pesticide undergoes no significant biotic or abiotic degradation in environment still present soils where applied. It only 1999 health environmental authorities became aware of extent chlordecone pollution media, including soils, waterways, food chain. Earlier observations toxicological studies have demonstrated a reproductive developmental toxicant, neurotoxic carcinogenic rodents, endocrine-disrupting chemical because its estrogenic properties both vitro vivo. Several surveys confirmed Indian population continues be exposed this though consumption contaminated foodstuffs. Here, we report findings various epidemiological conducted Indies assess impact exposure on population.