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IPEN Body Burden Community Monitoring Handbook PesticidesHexachlorobenzene (HCB) Chemical Name: Hexaclorobenzene (C6H6). CAS Number: 118-74-1 Properties: Solubility in water: 50 µg/L at 20°C; vapour pressure: 1.09 x 10 -5 mm Hg at 20°C; log KOW: 3.93- 6.42. Discovery/Uses: It was first introduced in 1945 as fungicide for seed treatments of grain crops, and used to make fireworks, ammunition, and synthetic rubber. Today it is mainly a by-product in the production of a large number of chlorinated compounds, particularly lower chlorinated benzenes, solvents and several pesticides. HCB is emitted to the atmosphere in flue gases generated by waste incineration facilities and metallurgical industries. Persistence/Fate: HCB has an estimated ‘field half-life’ of 2.7-5.7 years. HCB has a relatively high bioaccumulation potential and long half-life in biota. Toxicity: LC50 for fish varies between 50 and 200 µg/L. The acute toxicity of HCB is low with LD50 values of 3.5 mg/g for rats. Mild effects of the [rat] liver have been observed at a daily dose of 0.25 mg HCB/kg bw. HCB is known to cause liver disease in humans (porphyria cutanea tarda) and has been classified as a possible carcinogen to humans by IARC. Source: UNEP Chemicals, Regional Reports of the Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances Program (2002) Available from: http://www.chem.unep.ch/pts UNEP Chemicals 11-13, chemin des Anemones CH-1219 Chatelaine, GE Switzerland. 
IPEN Body Burden Community Monitoring Handbook - 2003 |
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