Dieldrin

Dieldrin, classified as a chlorinated cyclodiene compound and a popular pesticide, was ranked second in the United States in the 1960s among all the agricultural pesticides. Globally, it was a well-known insecticide for mothproofing clothes as well as for treating pests for crops such as cotton, corn, etc. However, its transformation from agricultural benefit to environmental and health issue demonstrates the intricacies of pesticide use. Dieldrin’s persistence in the environment became a major worry that led to its inclusion among the Dirty Dozens by the Stockholm Convention, initiating a ban on its production, usage, and trade globally. However, its exhaustive applications have left the evidences of this pollutant since its residues remain in soil, sediments, etc., and even animals, serving as a constant reminder of the long-term repercussions of unrestrained chemical usage. This chapter is an attempt to delve into the varied consequences and records of residual dieldrin especially in India to understand its current fate and status.