ABSTRACT
Dieldrin has been used extensively in the past as an insecticide for com and for termite control, although it is no longer registered for general use. Dieldrin is extremely persistent, but it is known to slowly photorearrange to photodieldrin. Once dieldrin reaches surface waters, it will adsorb strongly to sediments, bioconcentrate in fish and slowly photodegrade. Fate of dieldrin in the atmosphere is unknown but monitoring data has demonstrated that it can be carried long distances. Dieldrin has been used as an insecticide mostly for corn and in smaller amounts for termite control. Dieldrin photodegradation to photodieldrin is aided by rotenone and to a lesser extent by natural triplet sensitizers, such as chlorophyll. Even with high temperatures and prolonged leaching, dieldrin will be immobile in most soils. Major general population exposure will occur through consumption of food including consumption of fish from water bodies that have high levels of dieldrin.
