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Technical Factsheet on: TOXAPHENE
List of Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Drinking Water Standards
MCLG: zero mg/L
MCL: 0.003 mg/L
HAL(child): none
Health Effects Summary
Acute: EPA has found toxaphene to potentially cause the following
health effects from acute exposures at levels above the MCL:
central nervous system effects including restlessness,
hyperexcitability, tremors, spasms or convulsions.
EPA has not set drinking water levels which are considered "safe"
for short-term exposures.
Chronic: Toxaphene has the potential to cause the following
health effects from long-term exposures at levels above the MCL:
liver and kidney degeneration; central nervous system effects;
possible immune system suppression.
Cancer: There is some evidence that toxaphene may have the
potential to cause cancer from a lifetime exposure at levels
above the MCL.
Usage Patterns
Production of toxaphene in 1977 was nearly 40 million pounds. By
1982, when EPA cancelled most of its uses, consumption was
reported at 12 million pounds.
Toxaphene was used as an insecticide for cotton (50%), vegetables
(17%), livestock and poultry (17%), soybeans (12%), alfalfa,
wheat and sorghum (5%).
All formulations are now Restricted Use Pesticides. Special
livestock formulations are available & recommended for the
control of scab mites or mange on livestock. Rigo Toxaphene 6 has
been registered for sicklepod control in AL, GA, MS, AR, NC, SC,
& TN as 24(C) registrations for special local needs. Strobane
T-90 has a broad spectrum activity as stomach & contact residual
insecticide, & it has shown activity against several species of
worms, scab, mites, hornflies, lice & mealybugs & major cotton
insects. In the past, it has been used as piscicide (fish
toxicant) in lakes.
Other minor uses: for armyworms, cutworms, & grasshoppers; for
mealybug & pineapple gummosis moth control on pineapples & weevil
control on bananas. Conditional and restricted use as an
insecticide and as a miticide in foliar treatment of:
cranberries, strawberries, apples, pears, quinces, nectarines,
peaches, bananas, pineapple, eggplant, peppers, pimentos,
tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower,
collards, kale, kohlrabi, spinach, lettuce (head and leaf),
parsnips, rutabagas, beans (lima, green and snap), corn (sweet),
cowpeas, okra, alfalfa, barley, oats, rice, rye, wheat, celery,
cotton, horseradish, peanuts, peas, sunflowers, soybeans,
ornamental plants, birch, elm, hickory, maple oak, and noncrop
areas. Also used in seed crop foliar treatment of clover and
trefoil; in soil treatment of corn; in back rubber of beef
cattle; in animal treatment of goats, sheep, beef cattle, and
hogs; and aerial application and tank mixtures.
Release Patterns
Toxaphene is released into the environment primarily from its
application as an insecticide for the protection of cotton,
mostly in southern states.
Environmental Fate
Toxaphene is very persistent. When released to soil it will
persist for long periods (1 to 14 yr), is not expected to leach
to groundwater or be removed significantly by runoff unless
adsorbed to clay particles which are removed by runoff. In water
it will not appreciably hydrolyze, photolyze, or significantly
biodegrade. It will strongly sorb to sediments.
Little information concerning biodegradation of toxaphene in
aquatic systems was found in the literature. However, it has been
reported that the detoxification of toxaphene was due to
adsorption rather than by degradation in 8 Wisconsin lakes.
Degradation in aquatic sediment was more significant under
anaerobic than aerobic conditions and oxidative as well as
reductive metabolism can be important in the degradation of
toxaphene. Anaerobic conditions in sediments led to nearly 50%
overall degradation of 3 main components of toxaphene; under
aerobic conditions 13.6% degradation of the 3 components was
observed. Toxaphene is resistant to degradation in soils with
reported half-lives ranging from 0.8 yr to 14 yr. 50% loss in 6
weeks due to biological transformation in anaerobic, flooded
soils was reported while no transformation was found in aerobic
sediments.
Evaporation from soils and surfaces will be a significant process
for toxaphene. Based on range of reported Henry's Law constants
the calculated range of the half-life for evaporation of
toxaphene from a model river is 6.0-6.3 hr. Although toxaphene is
strongly adsorbed to soil, evaporation from soils may be a
significant process. Evaporation losses of from 7 to 14 kg/ha/yr
or more have been estimated from loam soil under annual rainfall
of 150 cm. Field studies have shown it to be detoxified rapidly
in shallow and very slowly in deep bodies of water.
Toxaphene may undergo very slow direct photolysis in the
atmosphere. However vapor phase reactions with photochemically
produced hydroxyl radicals should be more important fate process
(estimated half-life 4-5 days). Toxaphene can be transported long
distances in the air (1200 km) probably adsorbed to particular
matter.
Bioconcentration factors (BCF) for fish - 3100 to 69,000; for
shrimp 400-1200; Algae - 6902; snails - 9600. These BCF values
indicated significant bioconcentration potential. Chickens fed 5,
50, or 100 ppm toxaphene in the diet, residues are detected in
eggs and adipose tissue with a BCF of about 5.
Monitoring data demonstrates that toxaphene is a contaminant in
some air, water, sediment, soil, fish and other aquatic
organisms, foods and birds. Human exposure appears to come mostly
from food or occupational exposure.
Chemical/ Physical Properties
CAS Number: 8001-35-2
Color/ Form/Odor: Amber waxy solid with a piney odor; a mixture
of polychlorinated compounds, available as a dust, wettable
powder, or as emulsifiable or oil solutions
M.P.: 65-90C B.P.: Decomposes
Vapor Pressure: 0.4 mm Hg at 25 C
Octanol/Water Partition (Kow): Log Kow = 3.3
Density/Spec. Grav.: 1.65 at 25 C
Solubility: 3 mg/L of water at 22 C; Slightly soluble in water
Soil sorption coefficient: Koc = 2.1x105; very low mobility in
soil
Odor/Taste Thresholds: Odor threshold in water is 0.14 mg/L
Bioconcentration Factor: BCFs of 3100 to 69,000 in fish; high
potential to bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms.
Henry's Law Coefficient: 0.063 to 0.005 atm-cu m/mole; will
volatilize from water/soil
Trade Names/Synonyms: Chlorinated camphene, Octachlorocamphene,
Camphochlor, Agricide Maggot Killer, Alltex, Crestoxo, Compound
3956, Estonox, Fasco-Terpene, Geniphene, Hercules 3956, M5055,
Melipax, Motox, Penphene, Phenacide, Phenatox, Strobane-T,
Toxadust, Toxakil, Vertac 90%, Toxon 63, Attac, Anatox, Royal
Brand Bean Tox 82, Cotton Tox MP82, Security Tox-Sol-6, Security
Tox-MP cotton spray, Security Motox 63 cotton spray, Agro-Chem
Brand Torbidan 28, Dr Roger's TOX-ENE
Other Regulatory Information
Monitoring For Ground/Surface Water Sources:
- Initial Frequency- 4 quarterly samples every 3 years
- Repeat Frequency- If no detections during initial round:
- 2 quarterly per year if serving >3300 persons;
- 1 sample per 3 years for smaller systems
- Triggers - Return to Initial Freq. if detect at > 0.001 mg/L
Analysis:
| Reference Source |
Method Numbers |
| EPA 600/4-88-039 |
505; 508; 525.2 |
Treatment- Best Available Technologies:
Granular Activated Charcoal
For Additional Information:
EPA can provide further regulatory and other general information:
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - 800/426-4791
Other sources of toxicological and environmental fate data
include:
Toxic Substance Control Act Information Line - 202/554-1404
Toxics Release Inventory, National Library of Medicine - 301/496-6531
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - 404/639-6000
National Pesticide Hotline - 800/858-7378
List of Contaminants
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