(Also known as: alpha-HCH; alpha-benzenehexachloride; alpha-BHC; alpha-lindane)
SUMMARY
Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane is an insecticide that is not generally approved for use in the developed world. It is moderately toxic to mammals and considered to be carcinogenic. Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane has a low aqueous solubility and is highly volatile. It is moderately persistent is soil and slightly mobile. It is moderately toxic to birds and aquatic organisims.
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: Potential for particle bound transport: High
Historically an insecticide and a component of the mixed isomer product but now only produced as a byproduct of lindane production. It is also a lindane impurity that has some insecticidal properties
Example pests controlled
Soil-dwelling and plant eating insects
Example applications
Fruit and vegetable crops; Forestry; Public health applications
Efficacy & activity
-
Availability status
-
Introduction & key dates
-
UK regulatory status
UK COPR regulatory status
Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires
Not applicable
UK LERAP status
No UK approval for use
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
EC Regulation 1107/2009 status
Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur
Not applicable
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires
Not applicable
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)
Not applicable
Listed in EU database
Yes
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009; by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation; and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ISIceland
NONorway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional information
Also used in
-
Chemical structure
Isomerism
There are nine stereoisomers (eight diastereomers, one of which has two enantiomers).
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