Clay-based materials can tightly bind dieldrin and reduce potential exposures

What is it about?

Dieldrin is a pesticide that was widely used in the 1950s through the 1970s, but has since been banned to due toxicity concerns and the potential of exposure to dieldrin to cause adverse health effects. Dieldrin does not break down in the environment, and it can still be detected in soil and can be taken up into plants. We have developed clay sorbents that can tightly bind dieldrin to reduce exposures and protect public health.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This is the first report of a tight-binding sorbent that can be used to reduce exposures to dieldrin. The sorbents can be consumed by humans as "enterosorbents" to reduce the bioavailability of dieldrin in the stomach. Additionally, these sorbents can be added to soil to reduce the bioavailability of dieldrin and soil and reduce exposures through either contact with contaminated soil or consumption of contaminated produce.