Mirex (Ref: GC 1283) |
Last updated: 12/10/2023
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(Also known as: perchlordecone; perchlorodihomocubane; dodecaclor; ENT 25719; dechlorane) |
Mirex is an obsolete organochlorine insecticide. Toxic to humans and know to be a carcinogen. Mirex is also a reproduction and CNS toxin. It is practically insoluble and takes several years to degrade in soil. It is not expected to leach into groundwater but will accumulate in sediments. Environmentally persistent and will bioaccumulate. Moderately toxic to wildlife. |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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Now banned, Mirex was used to control ants and had several other non pesticide uses |
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Fire ants; Harvester ants |
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Agricultural fields; Non-cropped areas |
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- |
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Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries; Banned in many countries |
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1946, first reported |
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Not approved |
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Expired |
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No UK approval for use as a pesticide |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Expired |
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Not applicable |
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Yes |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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None |
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C₁₀Cl₁₂ |
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C12(C3(C4(C5(C3(C(C1(C5(C2(C4(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl |
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- |
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GVYLCNUFSHDAAW-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
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InChI=1S/C10Cl12/c11-1-2(12)7(17)4(14)3(13,5(1,15)9(7,19)20)6(1,16)10(21,22)8(2,4)18 |
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Yes |
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Insecticide |
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Organochloride insecticide; Cyclodiene insecticide |
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- |
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- |
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Synthetic |
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Central nervous system stimulant with contact activity, ingested toxin. |
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2385-85-5 |
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219-196-6 |
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375 |
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039201 |
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16945 |
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602-077-00-1 |
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545.54 |
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1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachloro-1,1a,3,3a,4,5,5a,5b-octahydro-1H-1,3,4-(epimethanetriyl)cyclobuta[cd]pentalene |
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dodecachloropentacyclodecane |
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1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-1H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalene |
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POP; LRTAP Annex I; OSPAR soc; Marine Pollutant; Banned 1978 |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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2A |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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White crystalline solid |
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- Allied Chemical Corp.
- Seppic
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- |
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0.0001 |
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Low |
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17000 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Chloroform |
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14300 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Xylene |
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485 |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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1.91 X 1005 |
Calculated |
- |
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5.28 |
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High |
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Likely to be soluble |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
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Based on chemical group |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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839.4 |
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Volatile |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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300 |
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Persistent |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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Environmentally stable, DT₅₀ circa 3000+ days, some reports say up to 10 years (R3) |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
- |
- |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
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Soil adsorption and mobility |
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- |
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Non-mobile |
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5794 |
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Log10 Koc 3.763 |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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0.59 |
Calculated |
Low leachability |
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1.16 X 10-02 |
Calculated |
- |
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- |
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High |
Calculated |
- |
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Non-mobile |
Calculated |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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51400 |
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High potential |
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Not available |
- |
Known groundwater metabolites |
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None
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 235 |
Rat |
Moderate |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 2400 |
Anas platyrhynchos |
Low |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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7.15 |
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Moderate |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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> 100 |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Low |
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40 |
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss 5 day |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 0.1 |
Daphnia magna |
Moderate |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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0.1 |
Chlorella pyrenoidosa |
Moderate |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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High (class III) |
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- |
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> 235 |
Rat |
Moderate |
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2000 |
Rat |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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List I |
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Main concerns were from food residues but substance is now obsolete and banned in most countries so risk now minimal |
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EU MRL pesticide database |
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Not metabolised by the human body. Mirex can cross the placenta and be excreted in breast milk, resulting in exposure to newborns and nursing infants |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
?Possibly, status not identified |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
?Possibly, status not identified |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
No data found |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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XNo, known not to cause a problem |
No data found |
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Moderately toxic Liver, thyroid and kidney toxicant Endocrine issues - Weak estrogen effect Reported link with liver cancer; IARC Group 2 - possible carcinogen; US NTP - suspected carcinogen; CLP data - suspected carcinogen; OSHA - Anticipated human carcinogen |
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No information available |
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Health: H302, H312, H351, H362, H361f Environment: H400, H410 |
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Not classified: Obsolete (Not classified: Obsolete) |
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mirex |
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Record last updated: |
12/10/2023 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |