toxaphene

Toxaphene is a complex synthetic mixture of over 670 chlorinated camphenes and related bicyclic terpenes that was historically utilized as an organochlorine pesticide and veterinary acaricide. Developed in the 1940s, it became one of the most heavily used insecticides in the United States, primarily applied to cotton crops and used to control ectoparasites such as mange, lice, and ticks on livestock. Toxaphene acts as a noncompetitive antagonist at the GABA-A receptor-associated chloride channel, leading to central nervous system hyperexcitability, tremors, and convulsions. Due to its high persistence in the environment, bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial food chains, and potential carcinogenicity, toxaphene was banned in the United States in 1990 and globally restricted under the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Brand names

Agricide Maggot KillerAgro-Chem Brand Torbidan 28AllotoxAlltexAlltoxAnatoxAttacAttac 6Attac6Attac-6Attac 8Attac8Attac-8Chem-PheneCotton Tox MP82CrestoxoCristoxo 90Cristoxo90Cristoxo-90Dr Roger's ToxeneEstonoxFasco-TerpeneGenipheneGy-pheneMelipaxMotoxPenphenePhenacidePhenatoxRigo Toxaphene 8Royal Brand Bean Tox 82Security Motox 63 cotton spraySecurity Tox-MP cotton spraySecurity Tox-Sol-6Strobane T-90Strobane-TToxadustToxakilToxon 63Toxon63Toxon-63

Other names

CamphechlorCamphochlorCamphoclorChlorinated campheneChlorocampheneKamfochlorOctachlorocamphenePolychlorocampheneToxaphentoxapheneToxyphen