The DeLand Country Club Estates in Florida are still undergoing a battery of sampling tests for the termite control chemical dieldrin, a chlorinated hydrocarbon that used to be employed as a pesticidal solution all over the United States. The chemical, however, was soon banned by the end of the 20th Century, due to the discovery of its powerful persistence. Persistence in a chemical compound means its longevity or ability to resist decomposition over time. Nowadays, there are stringent laws that regulate the type of chemicals used for termite prevention or extermination, and these regulations take into account the persistence of chemicals, in order to make sure that no lasting toxins are left in treated areas. The problem that might arise were it otherwise is clear, of course: treated areas are also ones with human habitation.
The discovery of dieldrin in the DeLand Estates is thus one that immediately saw an outcry of alarm from the local community, with residents taking to careful filtering of their water prior to usage and some even filing class action suits against the Country Club and the producers of dieldrin, Shell. As for the people heading the sampling, the officials from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, they are cautioning residents not to panic just yet, especially as it seems that quite a few positive samples are relatively lower than feared, even if they are cause for some concern.
Most of the land samples testing positive were apparently taken from the soil around the foundations of houses, indicating that most of the land-based traces of the pesticide were due to the chemical’s original usage as a termite control substance. Several other land samples, though, to the tune of about 1/4th of those taken in the vicinity of the country club, posted far more dangerous figures. One sample even saw a figure of 18000mcg/kg—truly a frightening figure.
The big problem with dieldrin is that it is a termite control chemical that happens to manifest signs of bioamplification. In other words, its concentration in the food chain actually tends to go up, all the more as it is so persistent a substance. This chemical has been linked to various ailments, including cancer and immune system diseases. As such, officials in the area are already taking action to try and provide for possible fallouts.
While sampling and investigation on the termite control chemical’s sources and prevalence continue, residents in the area are advised to use water filters or make use of the provided connections to city water instead, if their well sources are found to be among those afflicted by the issue. At the moment, the city well’s water source has not been found to test positive for dieldrin yet, even though it has already undergone two sampling tests.
