1. A highly toxic synthetic pesticide formerly used to control insects on crops and in soil; now banned in most countries due to environmental and health hazards.
Usage: chemistry; agriculture; historical

Examples

• Aldrin was widely used as an insecticide in the mid-20th century before its dangers became clear.
• The EPA banned aldrin in the United States in 1974 due to its persistence in the environment.
• Farmers once applied aldrin to protect corn crops from soil-dwelling pests.
• Aldrin accumulates in animal tissues and can bioaccumulate through food chains.
• Environmental scientists still monitor soil and water samples for residual aldrin contamination.