Dicofol is an organochlorine pesticide widely known for its effectiveness as an acaricide in controlling mite infestations on agricultural crops. Structurally similar to the pesticide DDT, dicofol’s molecular formula is C₁₄H₉Cl₅O, and it was developed in the mid-20th century as a more selective alternative to broader-spectrum organochlorine compounds. Initially introduced by the chemical company Rohm and Haas in the 1950s, dicofol was synthesized to target mite populations without impacting a wide range of other insect species. By the 1960s, dicofol became a prominent tool in pest management, especially for crops vulnerable to mites, such as cotton, citrus, and ornamental plants.
The chemical structure of dicofol includes a central benzene ring with chlorine atoms attached, giving it a similar backbone to DDT but with a hydroxyl group that differentiates its mode of action and environmental behavior. This hydroxyl group results from the partial oxidation of DDT, a process that was developed to modify DDT’s high persistence in the environment. The structure of dicofol allows it to act specifically against mites by targeting their nervous systems, which leads to paralysis and death. Unlike DDT, dicofol was initially marketed as less persistent in the environment due to this structural modification, though research later revealed concerns about its potential bioaccumulation.
Dicofol’s primary application has been in agriculture, where it has been used to protect crops against mite damage, which can lead to significant economic losses. It has been especially useful in controlling spider mites and red mites, which can harm fruit trees, cotton plants, and various vegetables. Dicofol’s selective toxicity to mites made it a preferable choice in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, where it could be used without substantially harming beneficial insect populations. This selectivity also allowed farmers to maintain biological controls while managing mite populations effectively.
Despite its effectiveness, dicofol faced increasing regulatory scrutiny due to environmental and health concerns, especially regarding its potential for bioaccumulation and persistence. By the 1990s, scientific studies indicated that dicofol could have toxic effects on aquatic life and might be a contaminant in ecosystems due to its chemical stability. Consequently, many countries either restricted or banned dicofol, and in 2011, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants moved to phase it out globally due to its environmental risks. Today, safer and more sustainable alternatives to dicofol are recommended in pest management, and its use is largely discontinued in favor of chemicals with lower environmental persistence.
References
2008. Contents and sources of DDT impurities in dicofol formulations in Turkey. Environmental science and pollution research international.
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-008-0083-3
1979. Dicofol solubility and hydrolysis in water. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.
DOI: 10.1007/bf02026947
1986. Gas chromatographic determination of organochlorine pesticides; contamination of dicofol, fenson, and tetradifon in fish and natural waters of a wet area beside the Mediterranean sea. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.
DOI: 10.1007/bf01623497
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