title: Hexachlorocyclohexane: persistence, toxicity and decontamination.
abstract: Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), a persistent organochlorine insecticide, has been extensively used in the past for control of agricultural pests and vector borne diseases. The use of HCH has indeed accrued benefits, however the unusual production of the insecticidal isomer; γ-HCH (lindane) and unregulated disposal of HCH muck has created various dumpsites all over the world, leading to serious environmental concerns. HCH isomers have been ranked as possible human carcinogens and endocrine disruptors with proven teratogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic effects, hence making its decontamination mandatory. Efforts in this direction have led to the isolation of various HCH degrading bacteria from the dumpsites, reflecting their role in HCH bioremediation. This review summarizes the problem of environmental persistence of HCH isomers along with their toxicity and possible solutions for their decontamination.
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nayyar
authors.forename: Naseer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sangwan
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: Helianthous
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Negi
authors.forename: Phoebe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oldach
authors.forename: Nitish Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Mahato
authors.forename: Vipin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Rup
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D042301:Sphingomonadaceae
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D007306:Insecticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane