Dicofol (4-Chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(trichloromethyl)benzenemethanol) is one of the last remaining, commonly-used organochlorinepesticides. Dicofol is a miticide. One of the intermediates used in its production is DDT. This has caused criticism by many environmentalists; however, the World Health Organization classifies dicofol as a Level III, "slightly hazardous" pesticide. It is known to be harmful to aquatic creatures, and can cause eggshell thinning in various species of birds. An organochlorine compound is an organic compound of chlorine. ... A cropduster spreading pesticide. ... DDT was the first modern pesticide and is arguably the best known organic pesticide. ... Bold textHello ... The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Animal environments are classified as either aquatic (water), terrestrial (land), or amphibious (water and land). ... The term eggshell is a term for the outer covering of a hard-shelled egg, and some forms of eggs with soft outer coats. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ...
The oral LD50 for dicofol in rats is 575 to 960 mg/kg, in rabbits and guinea pigs is 1810 mg/kg, and in mice is 420 to 675 mg/kg.
Studies of the metabolism of dicofol in rats, mice, and rabbits have shown that ingested dicofol is rapidly absorbed, distributed primarily to fat, and readily eliminated in feces.
Dicofol is susceptible to chemical breakdown in moist soils [12].