Although banned as a pesticide more than 30 years ago, traces of beta-HCH can still be found in water and soil.

Animal studies show that organochlorine pesticides, including beta-HCH, are neurotoxic, cause oxidative stress, and damage the brain's dopaminergic system.

Human studies show that exposure to beta-HCH is linked to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

In March 2005, the Italian National Monitoring System on Chemical Residuals in Food of Animal Origin detected levels of the pesticide β-HCH that were 20 times higher than the legal limit of 0.003 mg/kg in bulk milk from a dairy farm in the Sacco River valley.

β-HCH, a lindane isomer and possible human carcinogen, was subsequently found in milk from several neighboring farms.