| chlordecone (Ref: ENT 16391) |
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GENERAL INFORMATION 
for chlordecone
Description: A now banned insecticide that is effective against leaf-cutting insects but less effective on sucking pests. Also has fungicide activity particularly against scab and mildew. Also a metabolite.
Example pests controlled: Ants; Cockroaches; Root borers; Colarado beetle; Rust mite; Wireworms; Powdery mildew
Example applications: Tobacco; Potatoes; Ornamentals including gladioli; Fruit including bananas, citrus
Efficacy & activity: -
Availability status: Obsolete/Banned
Introduction & key dates: 1952, first reported; 1966 commercial production began, USA
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Not approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Not applicable |
| Date inclusion expires | Not applicable |
| EU Candidate for substitution (CfS) | Not applicable |
| Listed in EU database | Yes |
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 |
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Chemical structure:
| Isomerism | Chlordecone is a chiral molecule |
| Chemical formula | C10Cl10O |
| Canonical SMILES | C1(=O)C2(C3(C4(C1(C5(C2(C3(C(C45Cl)(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl |
| Isomeric SMILES | No data |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | LHHGDZSESBACKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C10Cl10O/c11-2-1(21)3(12)6(15)4(2,13)8(17)5(2,14)7(3,16)9(6,18)10(8,19)20 |
| 2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
General status:
| Pesticide type | Insecticide, Fungicide, Miticide, Metabolite | |||
| Metabolite Type | Soil | |||
| Substance group | Organochlorine | |||
| Minimum active substance purity | - | |||
| Known relevant impurities | - | |||
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |||
| Mode of action | Central nervous system stimulant. GABA-gated chloride channel antagonist. Has stomach action and also weak contact activity | |||
| CAS RN | 143-50-0 | |||
| EC number | 205-601-3 | |||
| CIPAC number | 297 | |||
| US EPA chemical code | 027701 | |||
| PubChem CID | 299 | |||
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 490.64 | |||
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | (1E,3aE,5bE,6E)-1,1a,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-decachloro-1,1a,3,3a,4,5,5a,5b-octahydro-2H-1,3,4-(epimethanetriyl)cyclobuta[cd]pentalen-2-one | |||
| IUPAC name | perchloropentacyclodecan-5-one | |||
| CAS name | 1,1a,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalen-2-one | |||
| Other status information | LRTAP Annex I; POP (recommended for Annex 1 of POPs Treaty); OSPAR soc; Air pollutant | |||
| Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards | - | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |||
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | 2B | |||
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Examples of recorded resistance | None recorded | |||
| Physical state | Tan to white coloured solid depending upon purity | |||
| Related substances & organisms | - | |||
Can be a metabolite of:
| Parent | Formation medium | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | 1107/2009 relevancy |
|
| mirex | Soil | Not assessed under 91/414 or 1107/2009 | ||
| kelevan | Soil | - | ||
Formulations:
| Property |
Value | |||
| Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically |
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| Example products using this active |
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| UK LERAP status | No UK approval for use as a pesticide under EC Regulation 1107/2009 | |||
| Formulation and application details | Usually supplied formulated as bait or as a wettable powder. | |||
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
for chlordecone
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 3.0 | F3 | Low | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Melting point (oC) | Decomposes before melting | F3 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | Decomposes before boiling | V3 | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | 350 | B4 | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | Not expected to self ignite; Not highly flammable | V3 | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 3.16 X 1004 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | 4.5 | B4 | High | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | - | - | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | - | - | - | |
| Note: | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 20oC (mPa) | 3.5 X 10-05 | B3 - @ 25 degC | Low volatility | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | 2.53 X 10-03 | B4 | Non-volatile | |
GUS leaching potential index  |
1.49 | Calculated | Low leachability | |
| SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l-1) for a 1 kg ha-1 or 1 l ha-1 application rate |
Value | 4.12 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) | 450 | B4 | Very persistent |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 (field) | 300 | F2 | Persistent | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note | Environmentally stable. Literature states it remains in soil for up to 1-2 years (B4) | |||
| 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 | B4 | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | Stable | B4 | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | Stable | R3 | - | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | Stable | R3 | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | F3 | Slightly mobile |
| Koc | 2500 | |||
| Notes and range | Log10 Koc 3.38-3.415 | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | - | - | - |
| Kfoc | - | |||
| 1/n | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | 60000 | B4 Menidia menidia | High potential |
| CT50 (days) | Not available | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 91.3 | V3 Rat | High | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | - | - |
| (ppm diet) | - | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | 237 | V3 Coturnix japonica | Moderate | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 0.02 | F4 Oncorhynchus mykiss | High | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | 0.03 | F4 Daphnia magna | High | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | > 0.011 | F4 Daphnia magna | Moderate | |
| Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 0.010 | F4 Americamysis bahia | High | |
| 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) | 0.27 | F3 Chlorococcum spp. | 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) | - | - | - |
| 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) | 105 | F4 Eisenia foetida | Moderate | |
| 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
for chlordecone
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) | 91.3 | V3 Rat | High | |
| 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) | - | - | - | |
| AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg-1 bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | - | - | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | List I | - | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | Food residues were a problem prior to the substance being banned May be absorbed via ingestion |
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| Occupational | A large number of cases of occupational poisoning have been reported | |||
| European MRLs | Click here for the EU MRL pesticide database | |||
| Drinking Water Standards | - | - | - | |
| Drinking Water MAC (μg l-1) | - | - | - | |
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Genotoxic | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | |||
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A0; B0; C0; D0; E0 |
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| Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Skin sensitiser | Eye irritant | Phototoxicant | ||||
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| General human health issues | Moderately toxic Possible liver & kidney toxicant May cause severe tremor IARC Group 2B carcinogen Endocrine issues - Binding to estrogen and androgen receptors |
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| Key: Genotoxicity A: Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) B: DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) C: Gene mutation (EFSA database) D: Genome mutation (EFSA database) E: Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0: No data 1: Positive 2: Mixed/ambiguous results 3: Negative |
Key: Other : Yes, known to cause a problem  : No, known not to cause a problem  : Possibly, status not identified - : No data found |
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Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| General |
No information available | |||
| CLP classification 2013 | Health: H301, H311, H351 Environment: H400, H410 |
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| EC Risk Classification |
Carcinogen category 3: R40 T - Toxic: R24, R25 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53 |
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| EC Safety Classification |
S1/2, S22, S36/37, S45, S60, S61 | |||
| WHO Classification | O | - | Obsolete substance | |
| UN Number | - | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
- | |||
| Language | Name |
| English | chlordecone |
| French | chlordecone |
| German | Chlordecon |
| Danish | - |
| Italian | - |
| Spanish | clordecon |
| Greek | - |
| Slovenian | - |
| Polish | - |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | - |
| Dutch | - |
Record last updated: Friday 06 December 2019
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk