mirex (Ref: GC 1283) |
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SUMMARY
Mirex is an obsolete organochlorine insecticide. Toxic to humans and know to be a carcinogen. Mirex is also a reproduction and CNS toxin. It is practically insoluble and takes several years to degrade in soil. It is not expected to leach into groundwater but will accumulate in sediements. Environmentally persistent and will bioaccumulate. Moderately toxic to wildlife.Description: Now banned, Mirex was used to control ants and had several other non pesticide uses
Example pests controlled: Fire ants; Harvester ants
Example applications: Agricultural fields; Non-cropped areas
Efficacy & activity: -
Availability status: Obsolete, Discontinued, banned
Introduction & key dates: 1946, first reported
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
Status | Not approved |
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Not applicable |
Date inclusion expires | Expired |
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 |
Isomerism | - |
Chemical formula | C10Cl12 |
Canonical SMILES | C12(C3(C4(C5(C3(C(C1(C5(C2(C4(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl |
Isomeric SMILES | No data |
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | GVYLCNUFSHDAAW-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C10Cl12/c11-1-2(12)7(17)4(14)3(13,5(1,15)9(7,19)20)6(1,16)10(21,22)8(2,4)18 |
2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
Pesticide type | Insecticide | |||
Substance group | Organochlorine | |||
Minimum active substance purity | - | |||
Known relevant impurities | - | |||
Substance origin | Synthetic | |||
Mode of action | Central nervous system stimulant with contact activity, ingested toxin. | |||
CAS RN | 2385-85-5 | |||
EC number | 219-196-6 | |||
CIPAC number | 375 | |||
US EPA chemical code | 039201 | |||
PubChem CID | 16945 | |||
Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 545.54 | |||
PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | 1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachloro-1,1a,3,3a,4,5,5a,5b-octahydro-1H-1,3,4-(epimethanetriyl)cyclobuta[cd]pentalene | |||
IUPAC name | dodecachloropentacyclodecane | |||
CAS name | 1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-1H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalene | |||
Other status information | POP; LRTAP Annex I; OSPAR soc; Marine Pollutant; Banned 1978 | |||
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 | - | |||
Physical state | White crystalline solid | |||
Related substances & organisms | - |
Formulations:
Key metabolites:
Metabolite | Formation medium | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | 1107/2009 relevancy ![]() |
|
chlordecone (Ref: ENT 16391) | Soil | - | Not assessed under 91/414 or 1107/2009 |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
for mirex
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) | > 235 | V3 Rat | Moderate | |
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 | Main concerns were from food residues but substance is now obsolete and banned in most countries so risk now minimal | ||
Occupational | - | |||
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 | |||
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 Liver, thyroid and kidney toxicant Endocrine issues - Weak estrogen effect |
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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![]() ![]() ![]() - : No data found |
Handling issues:
Language | Name |
English | mirex |
French | - |
German | - |
Danish | - |
Italian | - |
Spanish | - |
Greek | - |
Slovenian | - |
Polish | - |
Swedish | - |
Hungarian | - |
Dutch | - |
Record last updated: Friday 06 December 2019
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk