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DESIGNATIONS
CAS No.: 12789-03-6
Registry name: Chlordane
Chemical name: 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-Octachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-endo-methanoindan
Synonyms, Trade names:
Chemical name (German): Chlordan, 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-Octachlor-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-endo-methanoindan
Chemical name (French): Chlordane
Appearance: brown, viscous and odourless liquid (technical product)
Note: The technical product contains 60-75% chlordane isomers and 25-40% related compounds (mainly two heptachloro isomers (10-20%)). It is substantially the a -isomer.
BASIC CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL DATA
Empirical formula: |
C10H6Cl8 |
Rel. molecular mass: |
409.83 g |
Density: |
1.59-1.63 g/cm3 (technical, 25°C) |
Boiling point: |
not distillable |
Melting point: |
102-104°C a -isomer 104-106°C b -isomer |
Vapour pressure: |
1.3 x 10-3 Pa at 25°C |
Solvolysis/solubility: |
in water: 9 µg/l (technical product) miscible with most aliphatic and aromatic organic solvents including mineral oils |
ORIGIN AND USE
Usage:
Chlordane is widely used as a soil insecticide for termite control and as a household
insecticide for the control of ants and cockroaches together with a limited agricultural
use as a soil insecticide. It is used as a feed, contact, or respiratory poison. In
Germany, the use of chlordane has been prohibited since 1971; in the USA its registration
was withdrawn in 1976.
Origin/derivation:
Chlordane is manufactured by chlorinating hexachlorodicyclopentadiene which is obtained by
Diels-Alder reaction. There are no natural sources of chlordane.
Toxicity
Mammals: |
||
Rat |
LD50 250 mg/kg, oral |
acc. PERKOW, 1983 |
LD50 217 mg/kg, dermal |
acc. PERKOW, 1983 |
|
Mouse |
LD50 430 mg/kg, oral |
acc. PERKOW, 1983 |
LD50 153 mg/kg, dermal |
acc. SAX, 1984 |
|
Rabbit |
LD50 300 mg/kg, oral |
acc. PERKOW, 1983 |
LD50 780-840 mg/kg |
acc. PERKOW, 1983 |
|
Aquatic organisms: |
||
Rainbow trout |
LC50 0.022 ppm (96h) |
acc. VERSCHUEREN,1983 |
Fathead minnow |
LC50 36.9 µg/l (96h) |
acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
ECLo 0.32 µg/l |
acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
|
Bluegill |
LC50 0.022 ppm (96h) |
acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
Insects: |
||
Bees |
Toxic |
acc. PERKOW, 1983 |
Characteristic effects:
Humans/mammals: Poisoning may be due to oral intake, inhalation or resorption through the skin (readily). Chlordane irritates the skin and the respiratory tract. Symptoms of acute poisoning are vomiting, dizziness, tremors, disturbances of balance and convulsions. The toxic effect occurs very quickly: a case of death has been reported following the skin contact of 100 ml of a solution containing 25% chlordane before medical aid could be obtained. Symptoms are of longer duration with chlordane than with DDT under similar conditions. Chlordane is accumulated in fatty tissue, the liver and the kidneys. Chronic poisoning results in severe damage to these organs. Chlordane is suspected of having a carcinogenic potential.
ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR
Soil:
Due to its very low water solubility and its resistance to degradation, chlordane has
to be considered as very persistent in soil. The average half-life is estimated at 2-4
years [ULLMANN, 1989] depending on the type of soil.
Water:
Chlordane has to be classified as highly persistent in water. Experiments in a sealed
glass jar in sunlight and under artificial fluorescent light (initial concentration: 10
µg/l) resulted in residues of 85% after 8 weeks. In addition, chlordane is extremely
toxic to fish and bioaccumulates in fish up to 105-fold, thus entering the food
chain.
Degradation/Decomposition products:
In the organism of mammals (rats), the elimination of hydrogen chloride and the
formation of chlorohydrine and hydroxylated, hydrophilic metabolites of unknown
composition take place.
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
| Medium/ acceptor |
Sector | Country/organ. | Status | Value | Cat. | Remarks | Source |
Water: |
Drinkw | EC | L |
0.1 µg/l | single substance | acc. LAU-BW, 1989 | |
| Drinkw | EC | L |
0.5 µg/l | sum of pesticides | acc. LAU-BW, 1989 | ||
| Drinkw | D | L |
0.1 µg/l | single substance | acc. LAU-BW, 1989 | ||
| Drinkw | D | L |
0.5 µg/l | sum of pesticides | acc. LAU-BW, 1989 | ||
Air: |
Workp | D | L |
0.5 mg/m3 | MAK | Skin, suspected of carcinogenic potential | acc. AUER TECHNIKUM, 1988 |
| Workp | SU | (L) |
0.01 mg/m3 | PDK | Skin | acc. AUER TECHNIKUM, 1988 | |
| Workp | USA | (L) |
0.5 mg/m3 | TWA | Skin | acc. AUER TECHNIKUM, 1988 |
Note:
USA: Withdrawal of registration in 1976 [ULLMANN, 1989]
Germany: Use of chlordane has been prohibited since 1971 [PERKOW, 1983]
Assessment/comments
Like all organochlorine insecticides, chlordane is extremely persistent in the environment and is highly toxic to aquatic organisms and mammals. In addition, it has a bioaccumulative effect. Thus, the use of chlordane has been prohibited in several countries.