Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is a federal hazardous air pollutant and was identified as a toxic air contaminant in April 1993 under AB 2728.
CAS Registry Number: 77-47-4
Molecular Formula: C5Cl6
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is a yellow liquid with a pungent odor. It is virtually insoluble in water, and soluble in all portions in acetone, carbon tetrachloride, methanol, and hexane. In the presence of moisture it will corrode iron and other metals (HSDB, 1991).
| Molecular Weight | 272.77 |
| Boiling Point | 239 oC at 753 mm Hg |
| Melting Point | -9 oC |
| Flash Point | none |
| Vapor Density | 9.42 (air = 1) |
| Density/Specific Gravity | 1.7019 at 25/4 oC (water = 1) |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.08 mm Hg at 25 oC |
| Log Octanol/Water Partition Coefficient | 3.99 |
| Conversion Factor | 1 ppm = 11.16 mg/m3 |
(HSDB, 1991; Sax, 1989; U.S. EPA, 1994a)
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is used as a chemical intermediate for insecticides, flame retardants, resins, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is also used to make shock proof plastics, acids, esters, ketones, and fluorocarbons. It also has been identified as a combustion product in emissions from a waste incinerator (HSDB, 1991).
No emissions of hexachlorocyclopentadiene from stationary sources in California were reported, based on data obtained from the Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Program (AB 2588) (ARB, 1997b).
No information about the natural occurrence of hexachlorocyclopentadiene was found in the readily-available literature.
No Air Resources Board data exist for ambient measurements of hexachlorocyclopentadiene.
No information about the indoor sources and concentrations of hexachlorocyclopentadiene was found in the readily-available literature.
Atmospheric hexachlorocyclopentadiene will exist predominantly in the vapor phase (HSDB, 1991). No data are available concerning the tropospheric loss processes for hexachlorocyclopentadiene.
Since no emissions of hexachlorocyclopentadiene from stationary sources in California have been reported under the AB 2588 program, it was not listed in any of the risk assessments reviewed by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Probable routes of human exposure to hexachlorocyclopentadiene are inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact (Sittig, 1991).
Non-Cancer: Inhalation exposure may cause severe eye, nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation. Symptoms include tearing of the eyes, headache, sneezing, salivation and difficult breathing. Skin contact may cause blistering and burning. High-level exposure induces pulmonary edema, degenerative and necrotic changes in brain, heart and adrenal glands and necrosis of liver and kidney tubules (Sittig, 1991).
A chronic non-cancer Reference Exposure Level (REL) of 0.24 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) is listed for hexachlorocyclopentadiene in the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Program, Revised 1992 Risk Assessment Guidelines. The toxicological endpoints considered for chronic toxicity are gastrointestinal and liver effects (CAPCOA, 1993). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has not established a Reference Concentration (RfC) for hexachlorocyclopentadiene. However, the U.S. EPA has calculated a provisional RfC of 0.07 µg/m3 for hexachlorocyclopentadiene. The U.S. EPA estimates that inhalation of this concentration or less, over a lifetime, would not likely result in the occurrence of chronic non-cancer effects. The U.S. EPA has established an oral Reference Dose (RfD) of 0.007 milligrams per kilogram per day for hexachlorocyclopentadiene based on stomach lesions in rats. The U.S. EPA estimates that consumption of this dose or less, over a lifetime, would not likely result in the occurrence of chronic, non-cancer effects (U.S. EPA, 1994a).
No information is available on adverse reproductive or developmental effects from exposure to hexachlorocyclopentadiene in humans or animals (U.S. EPA, 1994a).
Cancer: Human data are limited concerning hexachlorocyclopentadiene exposure and cancer, and no animal data are currently available. The U.S. EPA has classified hexachlorocyclopentadiene as Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. The U.S. EPA currently is reviewing a two-year inhalation study conducted with rats and mice (U.S. EPA, 1994a). The International Agency for Research on Cancer has not classified hexachlorocyclopentadiene for carcinogenicity (IARC, 1987a).