Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

77-47-4

Intermediate in manufacturing resins, dyes, pesticides,
fungicides, pharmaceuticals and freons.

Colourless liquid.

272.75

Nonflammable. 
Toxic compustion product: emits toxic and
irritating fumes of phosgene, as well as carbon monoxide.

Photooxidation half-life in air:
1.0hr - 8.9hr,
scientific judgement based upon calculated rate constants for 
vapor phase reactions with hydroxyl radicals and ozone in air 
(Howard 1991).

Quick photolysis in water solution (half-life 4 minutes),
forming water soluble ketones; e.g. pentachlorocyclopentenone
and hexachlorocyclopentenone. 
Certain high molecular substances
are also formed (Chou et al. 1987).

Photomineralization, 17 hr, 46 % CO2 (Freitag et al. 1982).

Aquatic photolysis half-life:
1.0 min - 10.7 min,
scientific judgement based upon photolysis studies in aqueous
solutions (Howard 1991).

First-order hydrolysis half-life:
7.2 d,
based upon a first order rate constant (4.0 x 10-3s-1) 
extrapolated to 25°C and pH independent between a pH of 2.9 and 
9.8 (Howard 1991).

Aerobic half-life:
7d - 4w,
scientific judgement based upon aerobic aqueous screening test 
data (Howard 1991).

Anaerobic half-life:
28d - 16w,
scientific judgement based upon aerobic aqueous biodegradation 
half-life (Howard 1991).

Degradation products of special interest; hexachloroindenone
(Chou et al. 1987).

Absorbed slightly through skin and through lungs. 
Absorbed badly
in alimentary canal. 
Is preserved in liver, kidneys, ovaries
and lungs (Fawell & Hunt 1988).

Active sludge, accumulation factor = 2350, 5 d (Freitag et al.
1982).

Food chain contamination potential: Moderate. 
A model ecosystem
study showed that HCCPD has considerable ecological stability
and moderate biomagnification potential in aquatic organisms
(Sax 1986).

Mouse, ihl, 7 h - 216 d, lethal effect, 0.15 ppm (Sax 1986).

Toxic effect in mouse and rat after 19 mg/kg/d for 13 weeks
(Abdo et al. 1984).

Strong irritation of eyes, nose and throat. 
Skin contact causes
dermatitis, corrosion (Fawell & Hunt 1988).

Degenerative changes in the brain, heart, adrenals, liver,
kidney, and lungs are observed in severely poisoned animals by all
routes of administration (Sax 1986).

Direct contact: Contact with the skin can cause dermatitis,
corrosion to tissues and can also be absorbed (Sax 1986).

General sensation: Inhalation of vapors causes effects similar to
inhalation of carbon tetrachloride, which include:
irritation of eyes, nose, throat; headache, dizziness; nausea,
vomiting, hematemesis; absominal cramps, diarrhea; nervousness;
dyspnea; cyanosis; oliguria, proteinuria, hematuria; jaundice,
hepatomegaly; optic neuritis; unconsciousness; coma;
ventricular fibrillation (Sax 1986).

Acute hazard level: This material is very toxic to humans (Sax
1986).

Vapors cause similar toxic effects as carbon tetrachloride.

Vapors can be absorbed through the intact skin. 
There is a
narcotic action, and high enough concentrations can cause
respiratory failure (Sax 1986).

Skin and eye irritation data:
skn, mky, 10 mg, severe; skn, rbt, 500 mg, 4 hr, severe; eye,
rbt, 20 mg, 24 hr, severe; eye, rbt, 100 mg, 5 min, severe;
skn, gpg, 20 mg, mild (Sax 1986).

No information about carcinogenicity (Fawell & Hunt 1988).

Negative in Ames test and four other tests (Fawell & Hunt 1988).

No teratogenic or embryotoxic effects have been demonstrated
(Fawell & Hunt 1988).

Not amenable to biological treatment at sewage treatment plant
(Sax 1986).