noun
- Plural of heptachlor; a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide formerly used to control soil insects and pests in agriculture.
Usage: technical; chemistry/agriculture; largely discontinued due to environmental and health concerns
Examples
- Heptachlors were widely applied to crops in the mid-20th century.
- The EPA restricted the use of heptachlors due to their persistence in the environment.
- Residues of heptachlors have been detected in soil and groundwater samples.
- Farmers once relied on heptachlors to protect corn and other grain crops from insect damage.