| epichlorohydrin |
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SUMMARY
Epichlorohydrin is an obsolete pesticide additive. It is highly soluble in water and highly volatile. Environmental fate data is scarce. It is very toxic to mammals and might be expected to bioaccumulate. Epichlorohydrin is also a neurotoxin and irritant. It is moderately toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. GENERAL INFORMATION 
Description: A liquid with a variety of uses as a pesticide adjuvant, solvent, stabiliser and during the maufacturer of of various synthetic materials.
Availability status: Unknown
Introduction & key dates: 1848, first described
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 | No |
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 | - |
| Chemical formula | C3H5ClO |
| Canonical SMILES | C1C(O1)CCl |
| Isomeric SMILES | No data |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | BRLQWZUYTZBJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C3H5ClO/c4-1-3-2-5-3/h3H,1-2H2 |
| 2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
General status:
| Pesticide type | Other susbtance | |||
| Other constituent type | Adjuvant, Stabiliser, Wood preservative | |||
| Substance group | Organochlorine | |||
| Minimum active substance purity | >98% | |||
| Known relevant impurities | May contain chlorinated ethers, 1,4-dichlorhexane and various chlorinated propenes | |||
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |||
| Mode of action | Unclear but thought to damage genetic material | |||
| CAS RN | 106-89-8 | |||
| EC number | 203-439-8 | |||
| CIPAC number | - | |||
| US EPA chemical code | 097201 | |||
| PubChem CID | - | |||
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 92.52 | |||
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | - | |||
| IUPAC name | 2-(chloromethyl)oxirane | |||
| CAS name | (Chloromethyl) ethylene oxide | |||
| Other status information | VOC; Marine Pollutant; PAN Bad Actor chemical | |||
| Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards | - | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |||
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Examples of recorded resistance | - | |||
| Physical state | Colourless liquid | |||
| Related substances & organisms | - | |||
Formulations:
| Property |
Value | |||
| Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically | - | |||
| Example products using this active | - | |||
| UK LERAP status | No UK approval for use as a pesticide under EC Regulation 1107/2009 | |||
| Formulation and application details | - | |||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 66000 | V3 | High | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Melting point (oC) | -25 | F3 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | 118 | F3 | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | 217 | V3 | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | 31 | F3 - (closed cup) | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 2.82 X 1000 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | 0.45 | V3 | Low | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | 1.175 | F3 | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | - | - | - | |
| Note: | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 20oC (mPa) | 1.7 X 1006 | V3 | Highly volatile | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | 2.4 | E3 | Moderately volatile | |
GUS leaching potential index  |
- | - | - | |
| SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l-1) for a 1 kg ha-1 or 1 l ha-1 application rate |
Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Potential for particle bound transport index |
- | - | - | |
| Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol-1 cm-1 | - | - | - | |
| Surface tension (mN m-1) | 0.035 | V3 | - | |
Degradation:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
General biodegradability | - |
| Soil degradation (days) (aerobic) | DT50 (typical) | - | - | - |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note: | - | |||
| 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 | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | - | - | - | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | - | - | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | V3 | Moderately mobile |
| Koc | 123 | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | - | - | - |
| Kfoc | - | |||
| 1/n | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
Other known metabolites:
| Metabolite name and reference | Aliases | Formation medium / Rate | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | Metabolising enzymes |
| 1-chloropropan-2,3-diol | - | Seawater | - | - |
| glycidol | - | Water | - | - |
| N-acetyl-S-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)-L-cysteine | - | Rat (urinary) | - | - |
| 1-chloropropan-2,3-diol | - | Water | - | - |
| 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol | - | Seawater | - | - |
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | Low risk | F3 Based on LogP < 3 | Low potential |
| CT50 (days) | - | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 40 | E3 Rat | High | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | - | - |
| (ppm diet) | - | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | > 9.1 | F4 Pimephales promelas | Moderate | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | > 20.4 | F4 Daphnia magna | Moderate | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| 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) | > 6.0 | F3 Microcystis aeruginosa, LOEC | Moderate | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Honeybees | Contact acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - |
| Oral acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Unknown mode acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Earthworms - Chronic 14 day NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms - e.g. Collembola | LR50 / EC50 / NOEC / % Effect | - | - | - |
| 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 | - | - | - | |
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) | 40 | E3 Rat | High | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | 515 | V3 Rabbit | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | > 250 | E3 Rat, 4 hr | - | |
| 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 Limits | [UK LT TWA 8 HR: 0.5 ppm (1.9 mg/m3)], [STEL 15 mins: 1.5 ppm (5.8 mg/m3)] | UK EA QS database, 2018 | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | - | ||
| Occupational | - | |||
| European MRLs | Click here for the EU MRL pesticide database | |||
| Drinking Water Standards | UK statutory standard for drinking water quality: 0.1 ug/L EU Directive for drinking water quality: 0.1 ug/L Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.0004 mg/L |
UK EA QS database, 2018 | - | |
| Drinking Water MAC (μg l-1) | 0.1 | UK EA QS database, 2018 | - | |
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Mutagen | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | |||
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| Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Skin sensitiser | Eye irritant | Phototoxicant | ||||
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| General human health issues | Poinsoning symptoms include fatigue, headache, respiratory problems Blood, lung and liver toxicant IARC group 2A carcinogen |
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: Yes, known to cause a problem
: No, known not to cause a problem
: Possibly, status not identified
- : No data found
Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| General |
IMDG Transport Code is 6.1 Flammable and highly reactive Highly volatile and vapours are toxic Corrosive Risk of explosion Incompatible with strong acids, oxidising agents and many otehr chemicals |
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| CLP classification 2013 | - | |||
| EC Risk Classification |
Carcinogen category 2: R45 T - Toxic: R23/24/25 Xn - Harmful: R43 H - Handling risks: R10, R34 |
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| EC Safety Classification |
S9, S44, S53 | |||
| WHO Classification | NL | - | Not listed | |
| US EPA Classification (formulation) | - | - | ||
| UN Number | 2996; 2023 | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
Packaging Group II (medium danger) | |||
| Language | Name |
| English | epichlorohydrin |
| French | epichlorohydrine |
| German | Epichlorhydrin |
| Danish | - |
| Italian | epichloidrina |
| Spanish | epichlorhidrina |
| Greek | - |
| Slovenian | - |
| Polish | - |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | - |
| Dutch | epichloorhydrine |
Record last updated: Monday 28 May 2018
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk