(Also known as: HCH; Compound-666; hexachlor; BCH)
Data alerts
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
Human health High alert: Carcinogen; Genotoxic; Neurotoxicant
Warning: Significant data are missing
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)
Acts as stimulant to the nervous system with contact and stomach action. GABA-gated chloride channel antagonist.
Molecular targets
-
CAS RN
608-73-1
EC number
206-270-8
CIPAC number
-
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
727
CLP index number
No data found
ATCvet Code
-
Therapeutic Class
-
Controlled Drug?
-
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification
-
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; LRTAP Annex I; PAN Listed as Highly Hazardous Chemical; OSPAR pfap; Severe Marine Pollutant; Rotterdam Convention (Class II) - subject to PIC regulations
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
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Physical state
White to yellow coloured powdery solid
Formulations
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
UK Legal Class
Example products using this active
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Formulation and application details
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ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
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-
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Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
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Melting point (°C)
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Boiling point (°C)
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Degradation point (°C)
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Flashpoint (°C)
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Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
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Log P
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-
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Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
Soluble
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
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Data type
Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
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Density (g ml⁻¹)
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Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
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Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
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Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
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Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
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Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
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Refractive Index
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Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
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DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
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DT₅₀ (field)
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DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
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DT₉₀ (field)
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Note
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Manure DT₅₀ (days)
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Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
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Note
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Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
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Note
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Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
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Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
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Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
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Koc
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Notes and range
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Freundlich
Kf
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Kfoc
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1/n
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Notes and range
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pH sensitivity
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Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
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Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
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CT₅₀ (days)
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Known metabolites
None
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 100
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
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(ppm diet)
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Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
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Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
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Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
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Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
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Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
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Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)
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Soil micro-organisms
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Collembola
Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
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Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)
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Non-target plants
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Honeybees (Apis spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Chronic
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Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Mason bees (Osmia spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
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Other bee species (1)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
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Mode of exposure
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Other bee species (2)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
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Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
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Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
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Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
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NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
General
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)
High (class III)
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Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 100
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
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
;
E1 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 1 = Positive
No data found
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
No data found
No data found
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
No data found
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
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 OSHA - anticipated human carcinogen; CLP data - suspected carcinogen; US NTP - suspected carcinogen; US EPA - probable human carcinogen
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
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
Human health
Warning:
