Mirex

CAS Number: 2385-85-5

SERIOUS
health hazard

MODERATE
health hazard

FEW OR NO
health hazards

0 79

80 89

90 100

Sources of exposure:

Food

Environmental pollution (soil, water, air)

Description:

Mirex is an organochlorine insecticide formerly used primarily to control fire ants, with limited additional use as a flame retardant. It is classified as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) under the Stockholm Convention and is effectively banned and prohibited for any use internationally.

Health concerns:

Cancer

Known or suspected to increase cancer risk in humans.

Reproductive Toxicity

May alter hormone function and harm reproduction.

Developmental Toxicity

May impact fetal development and birth outcomes.

Neurotoxicity

May impact brain function or development.

Organ System Toxicity

May cause organ damage and disease.

Ecotoxicity

May be toxic to ecosystems and wildlife.

Banned/restricted lists:

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

References

HOW MILLION MARKER SCORES CHEMICALS

Million Marker's Ingredient Hazard Scoring uses multiple chemical databases and a science-backed scoring system to compute hazard scores for thousands of chemicals found in consumer products and listed on ingredient labels.

We identified key chemicals based on a database compiling dozens of authoritative sources, screening tools, and QSAR models.

Hazard scores within 11 different health categories (carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxicants, developmental toxicants, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, organ system toxicity, immunotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, skin/eye/respiratory irritants, and ecotoxicity).

They are weighted based on several factors, including strength of evidence for adverse impacts in humans, severity, and potential contamination.