Toxicity Profiles

RAGs A Format for Chlordane - CAS Number 57749

Chlordane is a manufactured chemical that was used as a pesticide in the United States from 1948 to 1988; it does not occur naturally in the environment. Technical chlordane is not a single chemical, but is actually a mixture of pure chlordane mixed with many related chemicals. It is a thick liquid whose color ranges from colorless to amber. Chlordane has a mild, irritating smell. Some of its trade names are Octachlor and Velsicol 1068. Until 1983, chlordane was used as a pesticide on crops like corn and citrus and on home lawns and gardens. Because of concern about damage to the environment and harm to human health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all uses of chlordane in 1983 except to control termites. In 1988, EPA banned all uses.

Chlordane is readily absorbed after oral, inhalation, or dermal exposure and is stored in adipose tissue. Death in humans from ingestion of chlordane was accompanied by vomiting, dry cough, agitation, restlessness, hemorrhagic gastritis, bronchopneumonia, muscle twitching, and convulsions. Headaches, irritability, confusion, weakness, vision problems, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and jaundice have occurred in humans who breathed air containing high concentrations of chlordane or accidentally swallowed small amounts of chlordane. Large amounts of chlordane taken by mouth can cause convulsions and death in humans. Animals given high levels of chlordane by mouth for short periods died or had convulsions. Long-term exposure caused harmful effects in the liver of test animals.

Exposure of humans from chlordane treated homes has been associated with leukemia. An increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been found among farmers exposed to chlordane 20 or more days per year. Hepatic carcinomas and hepatocellular adenomas have been described for several strains of male and female mice and male rats given chlordane in the diet. EPA has classified chlordane as group B2, probable human carcinogen on the basis of benign and malignant liver tumor induction in four strains of male and female mice and in male rats treated with chlordane in the diet.

The following is a presentation of the toxicity information associated with Chlordane.

Noncarcinogenic Health Effects
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is 5.00E-04 (mg/kg-day).
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has a modifying factor of 1.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has an uncertainty factor of 300.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is based on the Khasawinah and Grutsch study from 1989.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose study target organ is liver.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose study critical effect is necrosis.
  • The overall confidence in the Oral Chronic Reference Dose is medium.

  • The Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration is 7.00E-04 (mg/m3).
  • The Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration has a modifying factor of 1.
  • The Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration has an uncertainty factor of 1000.
  • The Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration is based on the Khawawinah et al. study from 1989.
  • The Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration study target organ is liver.
  • The Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration study critical effect is effects.
  • The overall confidence in the Inhalation Chronic Reference Concentration is low.

  • The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is 2.50E-04 (mg/kg-day).
  • The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.5000.

Carcinogenic Health Effects

  • The Oral Slope Factor is 3.50E-01 (mg/kg-day)-1.
  • The Oral Slope Factor study target organ is liver.
  • The Oral Slope Factor study cancer type is carcinoma.
  • The Oral Slope Factor is based on the Khasawinah and Grutsch study from 1989.

  • The Inhalation Unit Risk is 1.0E-01 (mg/m3)-1.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk study target organ is liver.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk study cancer type is carcinoma.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk is based on the Khasawinah and Grutsch study from 1989.

  • The Dermal Slope Factor is 7.00E-01 (mg/kg-day)-1.
  • The Dermal Slope Factor is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.5000.