Chlordane in Soil

Chlordane was commonly used prior to 1988 around a home’s foundation to kill termites and ants as they tried to enter the house. It is very persistent in soil, which created a long-term pesticide shield. While keeping homes
bug-free, this has created a pesticide problem in the soil around the foundation that persists to the current day. You and your family can be exposed by gardening, playing or digging in this area.

Chlordane’s Toxicity - This pesticide is a carcinogen and endocrine disruptor. While not potent as some other persistent pesticides (e.g. dieldrin, DDT), it can still produce a health risk at fairly low soil concentrations. For more information on Chlordane Toxicity click here.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1) Test the soil near your home’s foundation for chlordane. Environmental labs can tell you how to collect the sample and provide an accurate result. Check with your local Agricultural Extension Agent for advice on getting a chlordane soil test in your area.

2) Areas over 0.5 ppm - Do NOT grow vegetables and do NOT let children play or pets dig.