Chlordecone (Ref: ENT 16391)	Last updated: 06/12/2019
(Also known as: clordecone; decachloroketone; kepone)

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GENERAL INFORMATION

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

UK regulatory status

UK approval status	Not approved

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Directive 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 EU-27 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	-

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	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

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	GC 1189 Kepone Merex Curlone
Example products using this active	Hopkins Allied Chemicals
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

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		3.0	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	Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Melting point (°C)		Decomposes before melting	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	-
Boiling point (°C)		Decomposes before boiling	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)		Not expected to self ignite; Not highly flammable	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
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
Bulk 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
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		High	Calculated	-
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	Very persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ (field)	300	F2 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 2 = Unverified data of unknown source	Persistent
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	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 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Stable
	Note	-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	Stable	B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Stable
	Note	-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)		Stable	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source	Stable
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)		Stable	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source	Stable

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Linear	Kd	-	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	Slightly mobile
	Koc	2500
	Notes and range	Log10 Koc 3.38-3.415
Freundlich	Kf	-	-	-
	Kfoc	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
pH sensitivity		-

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	60000	B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data Menidia menidia	High potential
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		91.3	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
	(ppm diet)	-		-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		237	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Coturnix japonica	Moderate
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.02	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 Oncorhynchus mykiss	High
Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.03	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)		> 0.011	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	Moderate
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.010	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 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 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 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 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 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

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)		91.3	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		2000	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
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		List I	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	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
European MRLs		EU MRL pesticide database
Drinking Water Standards		-	-	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-

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 ?Possibly, status not identified 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

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	No information available
CLP classification 2013	Health: H301, H311, H351 Environment: H400, H410
EC Risk Classification	Carcinogen category 3: R40 T - Toxic: R24, R25 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53
EC Safety Classification	S1/2, S22, S36/37, S45, S60, S61
WHO Classification	O (Obsolete substance)
UN Number	-
Waste disposal & packaging	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	chlordecone
French	chlordecone
German	Chlordecon
Danish	-
Italian	-
Spanish	clordecon
Greek	-
Polish	-
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	-

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Record last updated:	06/12/2019
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