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Chiral Chlordane Components in Environmental Matrices
Citation:
ULRICH, E. M. AND R. L. FALCONER. Chiral Chlordane Components in Environmental Matrices. Chapter 2, Wayne Garrison, Weiping Liu, Jay Gan (ed.), Chrial Pesticides: Stereoselectivity in its Consequences. ACS Publications, Washington, DC, 1085:11-43, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD′s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA′s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Chlordane, a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic organochlorine pesticide, has been studied for many years. Since the advent of chiral analysis for environmental samples, over 2,400 measurements have been made of various chiral chlordane components. Chlordane enantiomer fractions most often have been reported for air and soil with studies suggesting volatilization from soil is an important source to ambient air, although urban termiticide usage also can influence chiral chlordane measurements. Sediment core studies suggest the small amount of enantioselective degradation of chlordane likely occurs prior to deposition. In general, enantioselective degradation of chlordanes in biota occurs more frequently resulting in more nonracemic values than in other environmental media. There is also more diversity in range and enantiomer preference in biota. Analysis in plants has shown the ability to enantioselectively uptake and transport chlordane compounds from soil to root, from air to leaf and within the plant itself. Observation and measurement of chlordane enantiomers can provide a better understanding of the fate, exposure, toxicity, and risk of chlordanes and other chiral compounds in the environment.