Historical used organochlorine termiticides

Organochlorine termiticides are a group of pesticides that were used for termite control in and around wooden buildings and homes from the mid-1940s to the late 1980s. These organochlorine pesticides included chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). They
were used primarily by pest control operators in tropical urban areas, but also by homeowners, the military, the state, and counties to protect buildings against termite damage.

Chlordane as one of the most widely used termiticide before 1980s

In the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all uses of these organochlorine pesticides except for heptachlor, which can be used today only for control of fire ants in underground power transformers.

Termiticides were commonly applied directly to soil beneath buildings or beneath slab foundations and around the foundation perimeter for new construction. They may also have been periodically applied underneath the building (if accessible) at occupied structures, around the perimeter of the foundation, or in trenches excavated around the foundation, or by injection through holes drilled next to the foundation or in the flooring at the periphery of walls.

These pesticides break down slowly in the environment, application rates were relatively high, and applications may have been repeated over time. As a result, these organochlorine termiticides may sometimes still be found in treated soils. The organochlorine termiticides contaminated soil becomes secondary source of the chemicals in he air.

Recommended  actions to limit or avoid exposure include:
 Plant grass or other non-edible vegetation
 Cover contaminated soil with some kind of surface material such as gravel (within several feet of the foundation) to act as a barrier to prevent soil exposure.
 Keep children from playing in dirt near the foundation and keep toys, pacifiers, and other items that go into children’s mouths clean.
 Locate pet enclosures away from the perimeter of the building foundation.
 Do not grow edible produce such as fruits and vegetables in potentially contaminated soils next to the building foundation. Cover the soil next to the foundation, or add clean soil and landscape with non-edible plants.
 Do not relocate soils from underneath the building or from the foundation perimeter to other areas of the property.
 To reduce exposure to soil, cover bare soil underneath the house with a barrier material such as gravel or plastic before you work or store materials underneath the house.

 Wash hands and face thoroughly after you work or play in soil near the building foundation, especially before meals and snacks.
 Avoid tracking soil from near the foundation perimeter into the home and clean it up right away if soil is tracked in. Remove work and play shoes before you enter the house. Keep pets from tracking
contaminated soil into your home.
 If you work with contaminated soil or soil that may be contaminated, you should wear gloves and
protective clothing (long-sleeve shirt and pants) to reduce exposure. A protective paper mask (N-95 type with two elastic straps) should be worn if airborne dust is present (such as when you are operating a weed-eater in contaminated or potentially contaminated areas). Working with contaminated soil may leave residues on your clothing, so change clothes and shower after you work with the soil and avoid spreading dirt from clothes or shoes into your vehicle or house.

Information retrieved from
http://eha-web.doh.hawaii.gov/eha-cma/Downloads/HEER/termiticidefactsheetfinalsept2011.pdf