Hexachloran

An alternative term for the insecticide HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), one isomer of which is the well-known lindane. Like other organochlorine pesticides, it was valued for broad-spectrum pest control but later restricted because of environmental persistence, accumulation in fatty tissue, and toxicity concerns. Manufacturing and agricultural use have been phased out in most countries under international agreements, yet residue monitoring in fatty foods — dairy products, meat, and fish — still watches for this chemical family. Its history serves as a reminder of why persistent pesticides were replaced by compounds that break down more readily in the environment.