Hexachlorbenzene. Properties, Emissions and Content in the Environment

MSC-E Technical Note 6/2000

N.Vulykh, V.Putilina

ABSTRACT

Hexachlorobenzene (CAS: 118-74-1) belongs to hazardous persistent organic pollutants due to its carcinogenic effects. According to the classification of the International Agency on Cancer Research (IACR) it refers to carcinogen group 2B (2b).

The input of HCB to the environment takes place with the use of it as a pesticide, with emissions and wastes of industrial and municipal plants, exhaust gases of transport etc.

HCB is a chemical compound widely used as a semi-product (reagent) in organic synthesis. It is used in the production of aniline dyes, synthetic rubber (as a softener for polyvinylchloride and a peptizer for polyvinylstyrene rubber), pentachlorophenol and other pesticides, pyrotechnic mixtures and electrodes (as a regulator of porosity) and in other products and goods.

The study is aimed at substantiation of the selection of parameters for HCB transboundary transport modelling. The report contains the sections of HCB physical-chemical properties, peculiarities of distribution with different environmental compartments and emission data.