Healthy Milk, Healthy Baby Chemical Pollution and Mother's Milk
BACK TO CHEMICAL OVERVIEW Mirex is an extremely stable and
persistent organochlorine insecticide. It has been used
primarily to control insect pests. Best known for its use
against the fire ant in the Southeastern United States, it has
also been used in other countries against termites, ants, and
other agricultural pests. Mirex has also been used industrially
as a fire retardant. Mirex in the Body Mirex enters the
environment as a result of its use in pest control and in the
disposal of industrial wastes. Once it enters the environment,
mirex tends to bind to soil and other particles and does not
break down easily. It does not dissolve in water and is very
persistent in soil. Once it has entered soil and underwater
sediments, mirex begins to bioaccumulate in living organisms,
including fish, cattle and other animals that have ingested
contaminated food products. Humans can be exposed to mirex by
breathing, touching, or ingesting dust or soil part