| mirex (Ref: GC 1283) |
 |
Environmental Fate - Ecotoxicology - Human Health - A to Z Index - Home
SUMMARY
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 sediements. Environmentally persistent and will bioaccumulate. Moderately toxic to wildlife. GENERAL INFORMATION 
for mirex
Description: Now banned, Mirex was used to control ants and had several other non pesticide uses
Example pests controlled: Fire ants; Harvester ants
Example applications: Agricultural fields; Non-cropped areas
Efficacy & activity: -
Availability status: Obsolete, Discontinued, banned
Introduction & key dates: 1946, first reported
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Not approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Not applicable |
| Date inclusion expires | Expired |
| EU Candidate for substitution (CfS) | - |
Approved for use (
) or known to be used (
) in the following European countries: 
AT |
BE |
BG |
CY |
CZ |
DE |
DK |
EE |
EL |
ES |
FI |
FR |
HR |
HU |
IE |
IT |
LT |
LU |
LV |
MT |
NL |
PL |
PT |
RO |
SE |
SI |
SK |
UK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General status:
| Pesticide type | Insecticide | |||
| Substance group | Organochlorine | |||
| Minimum active substance purity | - | |||
| Known relevant impurities | - | |||
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |||
| Mode of action | Central nervous system stimulant with contact activity, ingested toxin. | |||
| CAS RN | 2385-85-5 | |||
| EC number | 219-196-6 | |||
| CIPAC number | 375 | |||
| US EPA chemical code | 039201 | |||
| Isomerism | - | |||
| Chemical formula | C10Cl12 | |||
| SMILES | ClC53C1(Cl)C4(Cl)C2(Cl)C1(Cl)C(Cl)(Cl)C5(Cl)C2(Cl)C3(Cl)C4(Cl)Cl | |||
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | GVYLCNUFSHDAAW-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |||
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | 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 | |||
| Structure diagram/image available? | Yes | |||
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 545.54 | |||
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | 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 | |||
| IUPAC name | dodecachloropentacyclodecane | |||
| CAS name | 1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-1H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalene | |||
| Other status information | POP; LRTAP Annex I; OSPAR soc; Marine Pollutant; Banned 1978 | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |||
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | 2A | |||
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Examples of recorded resistance | - | |||
| Physical state | White crystalline solid | |||
| Related substances & organisms | - | |||
Formulations:
| Property |
Value | |||
| Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically |
|
|||
| Example products using this active |
|
|||
| UK LERAP status | No UK approval for use or outside scope | |||
| Formulation and application details | - | |||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 0.0001 | F3 | Low | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | 17000 | Q2 - Chloroform | - | |
| 14300 | Q2 - Xylene | - | ||
| Melting point (oC) | 485 | F3 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 1.91 X 1005 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | 5.28 | F3 | High | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | - | - | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | - | - | - | |
| Note: | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 25oC (mPa) | - | - | - | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | 839.4 | F3 | Volatile | |
GUS leaching potential index  |
0.59 | Calculated | Low leachability | |
| SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l-1) for a 1 kg ha-1 or 1 l ha-1 application rate |
Value | 1.16 X 10-02 | Calculated | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Potential for particle bound transport index |
- | Calculated | High | |
| Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol-1 cm-1 | - | - | - | |
| Surface tension (mN m-1) | - | - | - | |
Degradation:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
General biodegradability | - |
| Soil degradation (days) (aerobic) | DT50 (typical) | 300 | F3 | Persistent |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note | Environmentally stable, DT50 circa 3000+ days, some reports say up to 10 years (R3) | |||
| Dissipation rate RL50 on plant matrix | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Dissipation rate RL50 on and in plant matrix | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous photolysis DT50 (days) at pH 7 | Value | Stable | Q3 | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | Stable | Q3 | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | Stable | Q3 | - | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | Stable | Q3 | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | F3 | Non-mobile |
| Koc | 5794 | |||
| Notes and range | Log10 Koc 3.763 | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | - | - | - |
| Kfoc | - | |||
| 1/n | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
Key metabolites:
| Metabolite | Formation medium | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | 1107/2009 relevancy |
|
| chlordecone (Ref: ENT 16391) | Soil | Not assessed under 91/414 | ||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | 51400 | F3 | High potential |
| CT50 (days) | Not available | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | > 235 | V3 Rat | Moderate | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | - | - |
| (ppm diet) | - | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | > 2400 | V3 Anas platyrhynchos | Low | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | > 100 | F4 Oncorhynchus mykiss | Low | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | > 0.1 | F4 Daphnia magna | Moderate | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC50, biomass (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Non-target plants | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | ||
| Algae - Acute 72 hour EC50, growth (mg l-1) | 0.1 | F4 Chlorella pyrenoidosa | Moderate | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Honeybees | Contact acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - |
| Oral acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Unknown mode acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | 7.15 | CA3 | Moderate | |
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Earthworms - Chronic 14 day NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms - e.g. Collembola | LR50 / EC50 / NOEC / % Effect | - | - | - |
| Other arthropod (1) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Other arthropod (2) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Soil micro-organisms | - | - | - | |
| Mesocosm study data | NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - |
| NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - | |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
for mirex
General:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class) |
High (class III) | - | - | |
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | > 235 | V3 Rat | Moderate | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | > 2000 | V3 Rat | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other Mammal toxicity endpoints | - | - | ||
| ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg-1bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg-1bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | - | - | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | List I | - | - | |
| Exposure Limits | - | - | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | Main concerns were from food residues but substance is now obsolete and banned in most countries so risk now minimal | ||
| Occupational | - | |||
| European MRLs | Click here for the EU MRL pesticide database | |||
| Drinking Water MAC (μg l-1) | - | - | - | |
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Mutagen | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | |||
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|||
| Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Skin sensitiser | Eye irritant | Phototoxicant | ||||
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
|||
| General human health issues | Moderately toxic Liver, thyroid and kidney toxicant Endocrine issues - Weak estrogen effect |
|||||||
: Yes, known to cause a problem
: No, known not to cause a problem
: Possibly, status not identified
- : No data found
Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| General |
No information available | |||
| CLP classification 2013 | - | |||
| EC Risk Classification |
Carcinogen category 3: R40 Reproduction risk category 3: R62, R63, R64 Xn - Harmful: R22 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53 |
|||
| EC Safety Classification |
S2, S13, S36/37, S46, S60, S61 | |||
| WHO Classification | O | - | Obsolete substance | |
| US EPA Classification (formulation) | No consensus across products or no products available | - | - | |
| UN Number | - | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
- | |||
| Language | Name |
| English | mirex |
| French | - |
| German | - |
| Danish | - |
| Italian | - |
| Spanish | - |
| Greek | - |
| Slovenian | - |
| Polish | - |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | - |
| Dutch | - |
Record last updated: Tuesday 28 February 2017
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk