Mirex southeastern United States

Mirex was detected in 18% of the 1980 samples (maximum concentration, 210 pg/kg [ppb] mean concentration, 0.01 pg/g) and in 13% of the 1984 samples (maximum concentration, 440 pg/kg [ppb] mean concentration, 10 pg/kg). The highest mirex concentrations were detected in whole fish taken from Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and the southeastern United States, all areas where mirex had been manufactured or used (Schmitt et al. 1990). In the recent EPA National Study of Chemical Contaminants in Fish, mirex was detected at 38% of 362 sites sampled. The mean mirex concentration was 3.86 pg/kg (ppb) and the maximum concentration was 225 pg/kg (ppb). The highest concentrations of mirex were detected in fish collected in the Lake Ontario area of New York State (EPA 1992a). 

Kutz FW, Strassman SC, Stroup CR, et al. 1985. The human body burden of mirex in the southeastern United States. J Toxicol Environ Health 15(3-4) 385-394. 

Limited data are available on mirex worldwide except in the United States. The levels of mirex found in birds that were collected in the United States, except of those from the southeastern United States and the Great Lakes, were low and were considered nonhazardous in the 1970s (Cain Bunck, 1983). White (1979) investigated the wings of mallards and American black ducks (Anas rubripes) that were collected from four major flight pathways between 1976 and 1977 (Eisler, 1985 and the references therein). The results showed that Atlantic mallards had the highest detection frequencies of occurrence at 50% and the highest concentration of mirex (0.14 pg g-1 wet wt.). They were followed by Mississippi mallards at 29% and 0.03 pg g-1 wet wt., Central mallards at 14% and 0.06 pg g-1 wet wt., and Pacific mallards at 4% and 0.03 pg g-1 wet wt. (Eisler, 1985). 

Uses Mirex is used in North America and in the southeastern United States for the control of fire and ants. Mirex is also effective against the hamster ant, the yellow-jacket, the Texas leaf-cutting ant, and the Hawaiian mealy bug. A ban on the use of mirex for pest control with exemptions was brought in on June 30, 1978. It has its use as a fire retardant in plastics, rubber, paint, paper, and electrical goods from 1959 to 1972 due to its high melting point and high chemical stability.14,48... 

Mirex and chlordecone are no longer made or used in the United States. Mirex and chlordecone were most commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s. Mirex was used as a pesticide to control fire ants mostly in the southeastern part of the United States. It was also used extensively as a flame retardant additive under the trade name Dechlorane in plastics, rubber, paint, paper, and electrical goods from 1959 to 1972 because it does burn easily. Chlordecone was used to control insects that attacked bananas, citrus trees with no fruits, tobacco, and ornamental shrubs. It was also used in household products such as ant and roach traps. Chlordecone is also known by its trade name Kepone . All registered products containing mirex and chlordecone were canceled in the United States between 1977 and 1978. 

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