At a glance
| Chemical family | Organochlorine — cyclodiene insecticide (converts to dieldrin in environment) |
| CAS number | 309-00-2 |
| Classification | IARC Group 3 (not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans); Stockholm Convention Annex A (elimination); Canada SOR/2025-270 prohibited |
| Where you encounter it | Legacy termite treatments in building foundations; agricultural soil; household dust in homes built before 1990 in regions where it was applied |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Not in any modern product. Present through persistence in soil and dust around homes treated for termites before the 1980s. Converts to dieldrin, which is even more persistent |
Regulatory & certification status
| European Union | POP Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 — banned. One of the original dirty dozen Stockholm POPs. Regulatory |
| United States | EPA cancelled all registrations (1974 most uses; 1987 remaining). CERCLA hazardous substance. California Proposition 65 listed (cancer). Regulatory |
| Canada | Prohibited under the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (SOR/2025-270), in force 30 June 2026. Regulatory — Canada authority |
| International | Stockholm Convention Annex A (elimination) — original dirty dozen POP. IARC Group 3. No exemptions remain. Regulatory — International authority |
What it is
Aldrin is a chlorinated cyclodiene compound developed in the 1940s by Julius Hyman and named after the Diels-Alder reaction used to synthesise it. It was one of the most widely used termite pesticides in the world, applied directly to building foundations and soil. In the environment and in living organisms, aldrin converts to dieldrin — a more stable and more toxic metabolite. This conversion is so rapid that most environmental monitoring detects dieldrin rather than aldrin. IARC classified aldrin as Group 3 (not classifiable) in 1987, meaning there is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and limited evidence in animals. Despite this, the combination of extreme persistence, bioaccumulation, and acute toxicity led to its inclusion in the original Stockholm Convention dirty dozen.
Where it shows up in bedding
Aldrin was never an ingredient in bedding. Its bedroom relevance is structural: homes built before the late 1980s in regions where aldrin was used for termite control (the US Southeast, Australia, parts of Asia) may still have measurable aldrin/dieldrin in foundation soil and household dust. During sleep, dust ingestion and inhalation are secondary exposure pathways. The primary concern is cumulative body burden through food-chain bioaccumulation.
Citations
- IARC (1987). Aldrin and Dieldrin. IARC Monographs, Suppl. 7. Source Peer-reviewed
- ATSDR (2002). Toxicological Profile for Aldrin/Dieldrin. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Source Regulatory
- Stockholm Convention. Listing of Aldrin — Annex A (Elimination). Source Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
Can aldrin still be in my home?
If your home was built before the late 1980s and treated for termites in a region where aldrin was used (common in the US Southeast, Australia, and parts of Asia), residues of aldrin and its metabolite dieldrin may still be present in foundation soil and household dust. The compound does not break down readily in soil — half-lives of years to decades have been measured.
What is the difference between aldrin and dieldrin?
Aldrin converts to dieldrin in the environment and in the body. They are closely related organochlorines with the same regulatory status. Dieldrin is more stable and more toxic than aldrin. Environmental monitoring typically detects dieldrin because aldrin converts so rapidly. Both are banned under the Stockholm Convention.
Related compounds
Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.
Last reviewed 2026-07-07. If you find a factual error, contact us.