nonagriculturally during this time period to control termites and household insects (ATSDR, 1993; Fiedler, 2000 7 Mirex (a)Description Mirex is a white, odourless crystalline with a melting point of 485C and as such fire resistant. It is soluble in several organic solvents including tetrahydrofuran (30 %), carbon disulfide(18%), chloroform (17%), and benzene(12 %) but is practically insoluble in water. Mirex is considered to be extremely stable It does not react with sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric or other common acids and is unreactive with bases chlorine or ozone In the environment, it degrades to photom irex, when exposed to sunlight(ATSDR, 1995 IPCS, year, USEPA, 2000b). See annex I for examples of trade names b) Production 27 Although it was originally synthesized in 1946, mirex was not commercially introduced in the United States until 1959, when it was produced under the name GC-1283 for use in pesticide formulatic as an industrial fire retardant under the trade name Dechlorane(R Mirex was produced as a result oftheonsand dimerization of hexachlorocyclopentadiene in the presence of an alum num chloride catalyst(ATSDR, 1995) Technical grade preparations of mirex conta ined about 95%mirex with about 2. 6 mg/kg chlordecone asa contaminant. Several formulations of mirex have been prepared in the past forvarious pesticide uses. Some of the more commonly used formulations of m irex used as baits were made from corn cob grit impregnated with vegetable oil and various concentrations of mirex Insect bait formulations for aerial or ground applications contained 3-0.5%mirex, and fire ant formulations contained 0.075-0.3% mirex (ARC 1979) Because it is nonflammable, mirex was marketed primarily as a flame retardant additive in the United States from 1959to 1972 under the trade name dechlorane R for use in various coatings, plastics ubber, paint, paper, and electrical goods Mirex was most commonly used in the 1960s asan insecticide to control the imported fire ants in 9 Southen States in the U.S. Mirex was chosen for fire ant eradication programs because of its effectiveness and selectiveness forants. It was originally applied aerially at concentrations of.3-0.5%. However, aerial application of mirex was replaced by mound application because of suspected toxicity to estuarine species. As well, the goal of the fire ant program was shifted/changed from eradication to selective control. Mirex was also used successfully in controlling populations of leaf cutter ants in South America, harvester termites in South Africa, Western harvesterants in the U.S., mealybugs in pineapples in Hawaii, and yellowjacket wasps in the US. All registered products containing mirex were effectively cancelled in December 1977. However, selected ground application was allowed until June 1978, at which time the product was banned in the U.s with the exception of continued use in Hawaii on pineapples until stocks on hand were exhausted. China has applied for an exemption from the Stockholm Convention for the production and use of mirex as a termicide. There is a limited production and some local use as a termicide(ATSDR, 1995; UNEP, 2002b) 8. Toxaphene (a)Description Toxaphene is an insecticide conta ining over 670 polychlorinated byciclic terpenes consisting predominantly of chlorinated camphene. Toxaphene formulations included wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, dusts, granules, baits, oils, and emulsions(IARC 1979, ATSDR 1996). In its original form, it is a yellow to am ber waxy solid that smells like turpentine. (see below) Its melting range is from 65 to 90C boiling point in water is above 120%C which is the temperature where it starts to decompose Toxaphene s tends to evaporate when in solid form or when mixed with liquids and does not bum Toxaphene is also nown as camphechlor, chlorocamphene, polychlorocamphene, and chlorinated camphene(ATSDR, 1996 Fiedler, 2000; IPCS, no year, USEPA, 2000b). See annex I for examples of trade names Technical toxaphene can be produced commercially by reacting chlorine gas with technical camphene in the presence of ultraviolet radiation and catalysts, yielding chlorinated camphene containing 67 69% chlorine by weight. It has been available in various forms: a solid containing 100% technical toxaphene a 90% solution in xylene or oil; a wettable powder containing 40% toxaphene, dusts conta ning 5 to 20 and 40% toxaphene, granules containing 10 or 20 toxaphene emulsifia ble concentrates in concentrations of 4, 6,[Document Number] April 2005 9 nonagriculturally during this time period to control termites and household insects (ATSDR, 1993; Fiedler, 2000). 7 Mirex (a) Description 26. Mirex is a white, odourless crystalline with a melting point of 485 °C and as such fire resistant. It is soluble in several organic solvents including tetrahydrofuran (30 %), carbon disulfide (18 %), chloroform (17 %), and benzene (12 %), but is practically insoluble in water. Mirex is considered to be extremely stable. It does not react with sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric or other common acids and is unreactive with bases, chlorine or ozone. In the environment, it degrades to photomirex, when exposed to sunlight (ATSDR, 1995; IPCS, year; USEPA, 2000b). See annex I for examples of trade names. (b) Production 27. Although it was originally synthesized in 1946, mirex was not commercially introduced in the United States until 1959, when it was produced under the name GC-1283 for use in pesticide formulations and as an industrial fire retardant under the trade name Dechlorane®. Mirex was produced as a result of the dimerization of hexachlorocyclopentadiene in the presence of an aluminum chloride catalyst (ATSDR, 1995). Technical grade preparations of mirex contained about 95 % mirex with about 2.6 mg/kg chlordecone as a contaminant. Several formulations of mirex have been prepared in the past for various pesticide uses. Some of the more commonly used formulations of mirex used as baits were made from corn cob grit impregnated with vegetable oil and various concentrations of mirex. Insect bait formulations for aerial or ground applications contained 0.3-0.5% mirex, and fire ant formulations contained 0.075-0.3% mirex (IARC 1979). (c) Use 28. Because it is nonflammable, mirex was marketed primarily as a flame retardant additive in the United States from 1959 to 1972 under the trade name Dechlorane® for use in various coatings, plastics, rubber, paint, paper, and electrical goods. 29. Mirex was most commonly used in the 1960s as an insecticide to control the imported fire ants in 9 Southern States in the U.S. Mirex was chosen for fire ant eradication programs because of its effectiveness and selectiveness for ants. It was originally applied aerially at concentrations of 0.3 -0.5 %. However, aerial application of mirex was replaced by mound application because of suspected toxicity to estuarine species. As well, the goal of the fire ant program was shifted/changed from eradication to selective control. Mirex was also used successfully in controlling populations of leaf cutter ants in South America, harvester termites in South Africa, Western harvester ants in the U.S., mealybugs in pineapples in Hawaii, and yellowjacket wasps in the US. All registered products containing mirex were effectively cancelled in December 1977. However, selected ground application was allowed until June 1978, at which time the product was banned in the U.S. with the exception of continued use in Hawaii on pineapples until stocks on hand were exhausted. 30. China has applied for an exemption from the Stockholm Convention for the production and use of mirex as a termicide. There is a limited production and some local use as a termicide (ATSDR, 1995; UNEP, 2002b). 8. Toxaphene (a) Description 31. Toxaphene is an insecticide containing over 670 polychlorinated byciclic terpenes consisting predominantly of chlorinated camphenes. Toxaphene formulations included wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, dusts, granules, baits, oils, and emulsions (IARC 1979, ATSDR 1996). In its original form, it is a yellow to amber waxy solid that smells like turpentine. (see below) Its melting range is from 65 to 90 °C. Its boiling point in water is above 120 °C, which is the temperature where it starts to decompose. Toxaphene tends to evaporate when in solid form or when mixed with liquids and does not burn. Toxaphene is also known as camphechlor, chlorocamphene, polychlorocamphene, and chlorinated camphene (ATSDR, 1996; Fiedler, 2000; IPCS, no year; USEPA, 2000b). See annex I for examples of trade names. (b) Production 32. Technical toxaphene can be produced commercially by reacting chlorine gas with technical camphene in the presence of ultraviolet radiation and catalysts, yielding chlorinated camphene containing 67 - 69% chlorine by weight. It has been available in various forms: a solid containing 100% technical toxaphene; a 90% solution in xylene or oil; a wettable powder containing 40 % toxaphene; dusts containing 5 to 20 and 40 % toxaphene;granules containing 10 or 20 % toxaphene;emulsifiable concentrates in concentrations of 4 , 6