methoxychlor

methoxychlor, a largely banned synthetic insecticide. Methoxychlor, a colourless crystalline organic halogen compound, is very similar to DDT but acts more rapidly, is less persistent, and does not accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals as DDT does. Effective against flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, chiggers, and other insects, it was widely used on agricultural crops, livestock, and pets and in animal feed, grain storage bins, and home gardens. It is toxic to fish and various invertebrates and also is an endocrine disruptor in humans and other mammals. Its use was banned in the European Union in 2002 and in the United States in 2003.

Methoxychlor is prepared by the reaction of chloral with anisole (methyl phenyl ether) in the presence of sulfuric acid; the commercial product usually is about 88 percent pure.