(Also known as: clordecone; decachloroketone; kepone)
SUMMARY
Chlordecone is an effective insecticide for controlling sucking and chewing pests. It has a low aqueous solubility and is non-volatile. It may be environmentally persistent dependig upon local conditions. It has a moderate to high toxicity to most biodiversity. Chlordecone is also highly toxic to mammals via the oral route, is a carcinogen and an irritant.
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
Environmental fate High alert: Persistent; Potential for particle bound transport: High
Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Carcinogen; Endocrine distrupter
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An 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.
V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Degradation point (°C)
350
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
-
Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
3.16 X 1004
Calculated
-
Log P
4.5
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
High
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
-
Data type
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
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
-
-
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
-
-
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
3.5 X 10-05
B3 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
at 25 °C
Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
2.53 X 10-03
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-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)
450
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Food residues were a problem prior to the substance being banned May be absorbed via ingestion
Occupational
A large number of cases of occupational poisoning have been reported
MRLs
European
EU MRL pesticide database
Great Britain
GB MRL Register
Notes
-
Drinking Water Standards
-
-
-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
-
-
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
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
;
E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
XNo, known not to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓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
Moderately toxic Possible liver & kidney toxicant May cause severe tremor IARC Group 2B carcinogen Endocrine issues - Binding to estrogen and androgen receptors
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
Environmental fate
