ABSTRACT
Chlordecone is very persistent, sorptive, and highly lipophilic (Epstein 1978). Its persistence in soils is due to its low solubility in water (Dawson et al. 1979), its high afnity for organic matter (Cabidoche et al. 2009, Kenaga 1980), and its poor biodegradability, which is related to its peculiar chemical structure and the high steric hindrance caused by the 10 chlorine atoms (Jablonski et al. 1996). Due to these properties, 20 years after the prohibition of its use (1993), the molecule still persists in soils where it was applied (Brunet et al. 2009, Cabidoche et al. 2009). Moreover, the chlordecone pollution in soils becomes a continuous source of contamination for water resources, crops, and animals (Cabidoche et al. 2009, Gourcy et al. 2009, Jondreville et al. 2013, Luellen et al. 2006).
