Air, surface water, or soil near waste sites may also contain higher levels. There is very little information about how methoxychlor affects people's health. In animals, exposure to very high levels of methoxychlor produced neurologic effects such as tremors, convulsions, and seizures. Because methoxychlor is broken down quickly in the body, you are not likely to experience neurologic effects unless you are exposed to very high levels. Animal studies show that exposure to methoxychlor in food or water harms the ovaries and uterus in females, and the testes and prostate in males.
Fertility is decreased in both male and female animals.
It is expected that these effects could occur following inhalation or skin contact. Reproductive effects have not been reported in people, but effects seen in animals could possibly happen in humans, too. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has determined that methoxychlor is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. Animal and human studies do not provide conclusive evidence about the possible carcinogenicity of methoxychlor. Laboratory tests can detect methoxychlor in blood, fat, semen, and breast milk.