1. A synthetic organic insecticide of the chlorinated hydrocarbon class, formerly used to control agricultural pests and termites; now banned or restricted in many countries due to environmental and health concerns.
Usage: chemistry; agriculture; dated; also spelled chlordane

Examples

• Chlordan was widely applied to crops in the mid-20th century before its environmental risks became apparent.
• The EPA banned chlordan for most uses in the United States in 1988 due to its persistence in soil and water.
• Farmers once relied on chlordan to protect their fields from grasshoppers and other destructive insects.
• Residues of chlordan have been detected in wildlife and human tissue samples decades after its use was discontinued.
• The chemical structure of chlordan made it highly resistant to breakdown in the environment.