Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (Really Bad)
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons are man-made insecticides that the EPA (us) banned in the 1970’s and 1980’s when they were found to persist in the fatty tissue of animals. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons include: DDT, dicofol, heptachlor, endosulfan, chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, mirex, and pentachlorophenol. You can read more about them in our other articles. 🙂
Organophosphates (Use very carefully)
Many organophosphates were discovered during ww2 as nerve agents. Most common current pest control uses include: in agricultural field, on fruits and vegetables; and for mosquito eradication. Dursban and Diazinon are two common organophosphate formulations we find and despite there residential use being banned in 2001, there are still a number of chemicals on store shelves using these in there formulations.
These chemicals kill insects by causing an irreversible inhibition of the cholinesterase enzyme in the nervous system. In simple terms it breaks down nerve communication and puts them into cardiac arrest. Mammals such as humans, dogs and cats also have cholinesterase enzymes, and could possibly be harmed by these chemicals.
Organophosphates are controversial and a concern to both scientists and regulators because they work by irreversibly blocking an enzyme that’s critical to nerve system function in both bugs and people. Many environmentalists would prefer to see them disappear.