Chlordecone (CLD) is an organochlorine insecticide used in the French West Indies from 1972 to 1993 to control banana weevils. Three decades after its use ceased, it persists in soils and has contaminated all environmental compartments as well as food resources, right up to human beings. Its impact on health is now proven, although it is probably still underestimated.
CLD was applied in the form of 2 commercial formulations: Kepone (1972-1978) and Curlone (1982-1993), in which it was diluted to 5% by mass in a mineral matrix. Until now, very little information was available on the organic chemical composition of these formulations.
In this article published in Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, Hervé Macarie and co-authors analysed samples of Curlone from 6 bags and a sample of the technical grade Kepone used to manufacture 5% Kepone using gas and liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry.
The results show that no less than 68 organic compounds accompanied the CLD. Although present in trace amounts, these compounds should be taken into account in epidemiological studies, particularly those concerning the cohort of banana workers exposed during spraying.
Among the molecules found, some, which are more soluble or volatile than CLD, may have disappeared from the soil a long time ago and consequently are not currently contaminating the food of the West Indian population. However, their possible detection in the environment will have to be interpreted in the light of their initial presence in the formulations, before concluding that they are CLD degradation products.
