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1999 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

1999 Report—Chapter 6

Appendix B—Substances Targeted by the POPs Protocol

Substance

Its Principal Uses

Situation in Canada

Pesticides

Aldrin

Kills termites, grasshoppers and other insect pests

X*

Chlordane

Crops, lawns and gardens

X*

Chlordecone

Controls leaf-eating insects, ants and other insects

X

DDT

Malaria control

X*

Dieldrin

Controls termites, textile pests and other insects living in agricultural soils

X*

Endrin

On cotton and grains as well as against mice

X*

Heptachlor

On cotton and crops

X*

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

Lindane is the most widely used form of HCH. Used mainly in seed treatment

HCH as a pesticide (excluding lindane): X
lindane: Y

Mirex

Combats fire ants and termites. Also used as fire retardant in plastics

X*

Toxaphene

On crops and livestock to control ticks

X*

Commercial chemicals

Hexabromobiphenyl

Flame retardant

Y

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

In fireworks and synthetic rubber. Also used as a pesticide

Pesticide: X*
Other uses: Y *

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

In electric transformers, in paint and plastics

Y *

By-products or contaminants

Dioxins

Produced unintentionally due to incomplete combustion, as well as during the manufacture of pesticides and other chlorinated substances

Y *

Furans

Formed along with dioxins

Y *

Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Produced unintentionally due to incomplete combustion

Y

X Use is prohibited

Y Use or emission is currently allowed, subject to federal or provincial regulations or other pollution prevention initiatives.

* Targeted for virtual elimination from the environment under federal policy (see Chapter 4 for details). Many of these substances have long been banned in Canada (e.g. DDT), but are still targeted for virtual elimination as part of Canada's commitment to take action on these substances domestically and internationally.