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Glite Dictionary
endosulfan

endosulfan

1 9.9
A harmful poison used on crops to kill insects and now banned in many places
  • noun
  • /ˌɛndoʊˈsʌlfən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : endosulfán
  • In Midwestern cucumber patches, farmers face challenges from endosulfan, a chemical that may disrupt hormonal balance and cause health issues.

Examples

  • These could include endosulfan and the most hazardous brominated flame retardants.

    Academic text (2003)

  • But the insecticide endosulfan has shown up consistently enough to prompt a closer look for it in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and other sites around the country by the Mussel Watch program.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Water samples from the Silva Reservoir show high concentrations of the pesticide endosulfan, indicating serious environmental contamination.

  • The toxic insecticide endosulfan has been banned in many countries due to its harmful effects on both health and the environment.

Surface Forms

endosulfan singular
endosulfans plural

Morphology

endosulfan = endo + sulfan

Although 'endo-' is a recognizable combining form in chemistry, 'sulfan' is not a standalone English word and the compound name refers to a specific chemical substance, so learners cannot derive the meaning 'toxic insecticide' from the parts.

Etymology

Endosulfan is a chemical name: the prefix endo- means 'inside' and the sulfan part comes from 'sulfur', a common chemical. So the name can help you remember it is a sulfur-related insect poison used in farming, which is now banned or limited in many countries because it is toxic.