Where It Comes From
Past agricultural and termite treatments; forms when heptachlor breaks down in the environment and in people/animals; persists for years [1].
How You Are Exposed
Eating contaminated fatty foods (meat, milk, fish), breathing dust/air in older treated homes, or contacting polluted soil; drinking water is a less common source [1][2].
Why It Matters
Can cause nervous system symptoms; longer exposure may affect the liver and development; cancer risk flagged by EPA (probable) and IARC (possible) [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
People in homes treated before the late 1980s; those near contaminated sites; high consumers of local fish/animal fat; pregnant/breastfeeding people and young children [1].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Follow fish advisories; trim fat/choose low‑fat dairy; wet‑wipe and HEPA‑vacuum dust; wash hands; avoid disturbing contaminated soil; test private wells if near past uses/sites [1][2].
References
- [1]ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Heptachlor and Heptachlor Epoxide. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
- [2]U.S. EPA. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS): Heptachlor epoxide (CASRN 1024-57-3).
- [3]IARC Monographs. Heptachlor: Evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. International Agency for Research on Cancer.