0®s) FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT GENERAL INFORMATION Synonyms: » Trade names: Belt; Chfor-Kil; Chlorofox; Corodane; Dowclor; Gold Crest C-100; Kilex; Kypchlor; Niran; Octachlor; Octo-Klor; Synklor; Termi-Ded; Topiclor 20; Toxichlor; Velsicol 1068 Ch®mlcol Description: • Insecticide belonging to the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons known as cyclodiene insecticides Properties: » Viscous amber liquid with a chlorine odor • Consists of a mixture of 60-75% chlordane isomers (mainly as- and trans-), and 25-40% of 24 other organochlorine compounds, including heptachlor • Insoluble in water • tow vapor pressure • Heavier than water Production and Use: • Insecticide used for termite control; most widely used insecticide in the U.S. for control of subterranean termites • Prior to its suspension and cancellation of all agricultural uses by EPA in 1900. it was widely used as an insecticide to control various worms, termites, and other pests on a variety of food crops ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE Occurrence: » Results of the EPA's 1990 National Pesticide Survey (NFS) indicate that chlordane was not present above the MCL of 0.002 mg/l in any rural domestic wells or in any Community Water System (CWS) wells nationwide • There have been reports of individual household wells becoming contaminated after a house has been sprayed with chlordane for termite control • Has been detected in rainwater • Some States have prohibited the use of chlordane (and other chlorinated hydrocarbons) for termite control Releases: • Because chlordane is applied by subsurface injection, the potentiai for migration and contamination of ground water is high • May enter ground wafer from direct entry into a well through accidental chemical spills or improper storage near a well Environmental Fate: • Extremely persistent In the environment: » In soils: highly resistant to chemical and biological degradation (residues may persist in soils for 14 years); generally immobile (binds to soils) with a moderate potential for migration to ground wafer ; volatilization is an important removal process on soil • In surface waters: resistant to hydrolysis and btodegradafion; volatilization, and adsorbtion to suspended sediment and bottom sediment are likely to be the major removal mechanisms; may photochemically degrade in water and on plant surfaces to photo-c is-chlordane (found to be twice as toxic as chlordane to fish and mammals) expected to be highly persistent in ground wafers due to very low volatilization rates » High potential for bioaccumulation HEALTH EFFECTS Humans: • In clinical case studies of acute and chronic exposure to chlordane (ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact), the most common effects are central nervous system (CNS) effects and blood dyscrasias (blood system malfunctions) • CNS effects include irritability, excess salivation, labored breathing, tremors, convulsions, deep depression, and death • blood system effects generally include anemia and various types of leukemia • Absorbed through skin to produce toxic effects • spray operators, farmers, and chlordane formulators may be exposed Experimental Animals: • Acute intoxication principally causes a wide range of detrimental CNS effects, including irritability, tremors, and convulsions alternating with lethargy, diarrhea, and food refusal • long-term, high-dose studies indicate that chronic exposure damages functions of the liver, as well as the kidneys, heart, lungs, spleen, and adrenal glands; chlordane may also be a cumulative neurotoxin ------- • Caused significant -ecuccn n 'entity of female mice • No fetotoxic or teratogenic effects observed • Equivocal evidence of mutagenic potential • High carcinogenic potential REGULATORY PROFILE Existing Standards: * Clean Air Act (CAA): Nor regulated •Clean Water Act (CWA): Criteria established • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Hazardous wast© •Superfund (CERCLA): •Hazardous substance •SARA: Toxic chemical •Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA): Registered •Toxic Substances Control Act (RCA); Not regulated HEALTH INFORMATION Maximum Contaminant level Goats (MCLG): • Non-enforceable levels based solely on an evaluation of possible health risks and exposure, and taking into consideration a margin for public safety • Set at zero mg/t to protect against cancer MCLG for Chlordane * Zero mg/L (effective July 1992) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL): • Legaitv enforceable levels for contaminants in public drinking wafer supplies • Based on hearth risks associated with the contaminants, analytical methods for their assay, and water treatment feasibility and practicality aspects • Exceedance of the MCL in drinking water may result in adverse effects which will depend upon the contaminant concentration in water, amount of water/contaminant ingested, length of exposure, and other biological parameters MCL for Chlordane = 0.002 mg/L (effective July 1992) EPA Health Advisorie* (HA): • Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable concentrations of contaminants in wafer for up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate the public health risk resulting from an accidental spill or an emergency contamination situation • Longer-term HAs: :,cv ce "zr persistent water contamination sifua"cns *d cover a period of up to 7 years • Lifetime HAs: Derived in the same way as an MCLG Health Advisories: Short-term HA for a child = 0.06 mg/L Longer-term HA for a child = 0.003 mg, L Longer-term HA for an adult = 0.003 mg, L Lifetime HA *> Not recommended ANALYTICAL METHODS • Microextraction and Gas Chromatography EPA Method 505 • Gas Chromatography with an Electron Capture Detector EPA Method 508 • Liquid-Solid Extraction and Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry EPA Method 525 WATER TREATMENT Permanent Treatment • Best Available Technology (BAT): • Granular Activated Carbon SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION • If the drinking water standards are exceeaea, install BAT or use an alternative drinking wafer supply such as bottled water ADDITIONAL HELP • State or county health officials can indicate a certified laboratory for testing • Experts in the state Department of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, or Agriculture may also be of help • The EPA has toll-free numbers for further information on drinking water qualify, treatment technologies, for obtaining Health Advisories, and for other regulatory information • EPA Hotlines are available Monday through Friday •Safe Drinking Water 800-426-4791 •National Pesticides: 800-858-7378 •Superfund/RCRA: 800-424-9346 • for information on the Clean Water Act coil (202) 260-7301 • For information on the Toxic Substances Control Act, call (202) 554-1404 • For information on the Clean Air Act can (919) 541-2777 ------- |