Hexachlorocyclohexane

Hexachlorocyclohexane	Last updated: 09/02/2021
(Also known as: HCH; Compound-666; hexachlor; BCH)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A broad spectrum insecticide used mainly as a seed treatment to control phytophagous and soil-inhabiting insects. usually used as the gamma-isomer (lindane)

Example pests controlled

Soil-dwelling and plant eating insects

Example applications

Fruit; Vegetables; Forest crops

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Banned

Introduction & key dates

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

UK LERAP status

No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Not applicable

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Not applicable

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece

ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg

LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia

Also used in

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Chiral, exists as eight isomers.

Chemical formula

C₆H₆Cl₆

Canonical SMILES

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
hexachlorocyclohexane	Unstated isomer
hexachlorocyclohexane	Beta-isomer
hexachlorocyclohexane	Ortho-isomer
hexachlorocyclohexane	Gamma-isomer

General status

Pesticide type

Insecticide, Acaricide, Veterinary substance

Substance group

Organochlorine

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Acts as stimulant to the nervous system with contact and stomach action. GABA-gated chloride channel antagonist.

CAS RN

608-73-1

EC number

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

727

Molecular mass

290.82

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane

IUPAC name

1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane

CAS name

1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane

Other status information

WFD priority substance; Chemical subject to PIC regulations; LRTAP Annex I; PAN Listed as Highly Hazardous Chemical; OSPAR pfap; Severe Marine Pollutant; Rotterdam Convention (Class II)

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

White to yellow coloured powdery solid

Related substances & organisms

lindane

Formulations

Property

Value

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Example products using this active

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Not expected to self ignite; Not highly flammable

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

Log P

Bulk density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix

Value

10.1

Note

Published literature data range 2.5-28.0 days, 4 field crops, various matrices, n=4

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d

K_oc

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f

K_foc

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

Cannot be calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Potential for loss via drain flow

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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)

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other pollinators (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other pollinators (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Other soil macro-organisms

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

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

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Highly toxic
May cause vomiting, muscle spasms, tremor, hyperirritability
High doses can lead to coma and may be fatal

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

No information available

CLP classification 2013

EC Risk Classification

EC Safety Classification

WHO Classification

UN Number

2761; 2762; 2762; 2995; 2996

Waste disposal & packaging

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

hexachlorocyclohexane

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Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Record last updated:	09/02/2021
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