Question from Alyce
In the past I used to buy a house built after 1990 because chlordane was used for termite treatment before that time frame. I was under the impression that all houses treated with chlordane are contaminated with chlordane for a very long time…..even 40 years or longer after the treatment. Do you think this is a good guildeline to go by? It makes finding a house a lot more difficult when houses built before 1990 aren’t even considered. What’s your thinking regarding this? Appreciate any help!
Debra’s Answer
I actually have the opposite guideline for myself. I won’t buy a house built after 1970 because of the toxic building materials.
The house I live in right now was built in 1940. Of course, it could have had chlordane treatments up to 1990.
I don’t think you should assume that ALL houses built before 1990 had chlordane treatments or that they are still contaminated. When considering a house, I try to find out from the owner what treatments they did and when. Fortunately, the house I’m living in now was owned by the previous owner for about twenty years, so I could get that information.
Keep in mind that the longer it has been since the pesticide was applied, the less of the original application remains.
A house treated in 1988, the last year chordane was used, would now be 22 years after treatment. That would have very little, if any, chlordane left. A house treated in 1970–forty years ago–would likely have no chlordane left.
I’m more concerned about recent applications of pesticides that ones that happened ten or more years ago.
