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Organochlorine Pesticides

Meaning

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a class of synthetic organic compounds characterized by a high degree of chlorination, which were historically used extensively in agriculture and for vector control due to their potent and long-lasting insecticidal properties. Clinically, these compounds are significant because of their lipophilicity, persistence in the environment, and their well-documented classification as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Chronic low-level exposure is a concern in hormonal health due to their ability to interfere with endogenous hormone signaling pathways.