Heptachlor (Ref: ENT 15152)	Last updated: 04/03/2020
(Also known as: heptachlore; E3314; H-34; OMS 193)

---

SUMMARY

Heptachlor in an insecticide that is not approved for use in the EU. It has a low aqueous solubility but is highly soluble in most organic solvents. It is volatile and has low potential for leaching to groundwater. heptachlor can be persistent in soil systems but is not generally persistent in water systems. It is moderately toxic to mammals and may bioaccumulate. heptachlor may also cause adverse reproduction/development effects and is a neurotoxin. It is moderately toxic to birds but highly toxic to honeybees and most aquatic species.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	An obsolete insecticide once used to kill termites, ants and other insects in agricultural and domestic situations
Example pests controlled	Ants; Termites; Cutworms; Maggots; Spittlebugs; Weevils; Wireworms; Japanese beetles; Mosquitoes
Example applications	Corn; Sorghum; Small grains
Efficacy & activity	-
Availability status	Obsolete, Banned
Introduction & key dates	1951, first reported

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status	Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires	Expired
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	-
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires	Expired
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)	-
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

Also used in	Costa Rica

Chemical structure

Isomerism	A molecule with 5 chiral centres
Chemical formula	C₁₀H₅Cl₇
Canonical SMILES	C1=CC(C2C1C3(C(=C(C2(C3(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	FRCCEHPWNOQAEU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C10H5Cl7/c11-4-2-1-3-5(4)9(15)7(13)6(12)8(3,14)10(9,16)17/h1-5H
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
heptachlor epoxide	Metabolite
heptachlor	-

General status

Pesticide type	Insecticide
Substance group	Organochlorine
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Persistent, non-systemic contact and stomach poison with some fumigant action. Is a chloride channel-blocking agent.
CAS RN	76-44-8
EC number	200-962-3
CIPAC number	36
US EPA chemical code	044801
PubChem CID	3589
Molecular mass	373.32
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	-
IUPAC name	1,4,5,6,7,8,8-heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-methanoindene
CAS name	1,4,5,6,7,8,8-heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indene
Other status information	Chemical subject to PIC regulations; POP - regulated by Stockholm Convention; LRTAP Annex 1; OSPAR soc; Severe Marine Pollutant; Rotterdam Convention (Class O)
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	-
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	Anthonomus grandis, Delia brassicae, Diabrotica longicornis, Psilia rosae, Conoderus falli, Diabrotica virgifera, many others
Physical state	White to tan coloured crystals

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	Gold crest Heptamul Heptox Drinox
Example products using this active	Velsicol Chemical Corp.
Formulation and application details	Available in a wide variety of formulations including wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, dusts and oil solutions

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		0.056	G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		750000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Acetone	-
		1060000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Benzene	-
		1020000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Xylene	-
		45000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Ethanol	-
Melting point (°C)		95	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		135	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Degradation point (°C)		-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)		-	-	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	2.75 X 1005	Calculated	-
	Log P	5.44	G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data	High
Bulk density (g ml⁻¹)		1.58	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		-	-	-
		-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		53	G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Highly volatile
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		3.53 X 1002	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Volatile
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)	285	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ (field)	250	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	Persistent
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	Other sources: DT₅₀ around 2 yrs (R3), 9-10 months (R3)
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix	Value	4.8	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	-
	Note	Published literature RL₅₀ range 1.0-13.5 days, 4 field crops, various matrices, n=5
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	1	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-persistent
	Note	-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Linear	Kd	-	G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-mobile
	Koc	24000
	Notes and range	Other sources: 21878 mL g⁻¹ (R3)
Freundlich	Kf	-	-	-
	Kfoc	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
pH sensitivity		-

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		-0.91	Calculated	Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	5.35 X 10-03	Calculated	-
	Note	Estimated concentrations of chemicals with Koc values greater than 9995 ml g⁻¹ are beyond the scope of the regression data used in SCI-GROW development. If there are concerns for such chemicals, a higher tier groundwater exposure assessment should be considered, regardless of the concentration returned by SCI-GROW
Potential for particle bound transport index		High	Calculated	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		Non-mobile	Calculated	-

Key metabolites

Metabolite	Formation medium	Estimated maximum occurrence fraction	1107/2009 relevancy
heptachlor epoxide (Ref: ENT 25584)	Soil	-	Not assessed under 91/414 or 1107/2009

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	2430	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source (whole body)	Threshold for concern
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 147	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	Moderate
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	-	L1 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 1 = Estimated data with little or no verification Rat	-
	(ppm diet)	5		-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 2000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Anas platyrhynchos	Low
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.007	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss	High
Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.042	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Daphnia magna	High
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)		0.027	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata	Moderate
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)	> 0.526	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	High
	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)	0.0168	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Trigona spinipes	High
	Mode of exposure	Contact
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	-	-	-
	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)		> 147	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	Moderate
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		195	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		2.0	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints		-	-	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		0.0001	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source JMPR	-
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		List I; List II	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	Risk of exposure via food is now considered negligible
	Occupational	May be absorbed through intact skin
European MRLs		EU MRL pesticide database
Drinking Water Standards		UK statutory standard for protection of drinking water: 0.030 µg l⁻¹; EU Directive 2008/105/EC standard for protection of drinking water: 0.030 µg l⁻¹	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes UK EA QS database 2018	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		0.03	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes UK EA QS database 2018	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor ✓Yes, known to cause a problem A3 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 3 = Negative ; 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 ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative ?Possibly, status not identified Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant ✓Yes, known to cause a problem XNo, known not to cause a problem ✓Yes, known to cause a problem Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser No data found XNo, known not to cause a problem No data found Eye irritant Phototoxicant   ✓Yes, known to cause a problem No data found
General human health issues		Bioaccumulates Liver toxicant Endocrine issues - Binding to cellular estrogen and androgen receptors

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	Incompatible with alkaline substances
CLP classification 2013	Health: H301, H311, H351, H373 Environment: H400, H410
EC Risk Classification	Carcinogen category 3: R40 T - Toxic: R24/25, R33 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53
EC Safety Classification	S1/2, S36/37, S45, S60, S61
WHO Classification	II (Moderately hazardous)
UN Number	-
Waste disposal & packaging	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	heptachlor
French	heptachlore
German	Heptachlor
Danish	heptachlor
Italian	eptaclor
Spanish	heptaclor
Greek	heptachlor
Polish	heptachlor
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	heptachloor

---

Record last updated:	04/03/2020
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