Soil fumigation, effectiveness against

BHC was yet another important pesticide to be discovered in the early 1940s. It was first synthesized in 1825 (compare 1875 for DDT). It has broadly similar properties to DDT, is an effective seed dressing for protection against soil insect attack, and has also been used as a fumigant. One big advantage over DDT is the fact that it is not persistent and therefore does not create environmental problems. It has therefore not been restricted in the same way as other organochlorine insecticides. 

Our knowledge of effects on terrestrial species is largely derived from the use of methyl chloride, methyl bromide, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene dichloride, ethylene dibromide, dibromo-chloropropane and dibromobutane as fumigants, for the control of pests of stored grain, and of soil nematodes [11, 40]. A typical fumigant dose is of the order of 50 mg/1, which is similar to the measured action levels against aquatic organisms shown in Table 9. 

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