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ZENE
FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Synonyms:
•	o-DCB; 1,2-DicntoroDenzene
•	m-OC3; 1 ,3-Dicrtorobenzene
•	p-OCB; 1.4-Dichiorooenzene
Chemical Description:
•	Synthetic organic compounds; no natural sources
Properties:
•	o and m-DCB; colorless liquids
•	p-OCB; coiorsess crystals
•	Nearly insoluble in water
•	Volatile
•	Readily soluble in organic solvents
Production and Use:
•	Production of 0-OC8 in 1981 was about 11 million
ocuncs ana cf p-OCS, 15 million pounds: production
at m-OC3 not reported and believed to be smaii
•	Uses: o-DCB—solvent. deodorizer; p-QCB-
deoconzef. insecticide; m«OCB—none reported
ENVIRONMENTAL PiOFlU
Occurrence:
•	Rarely occur as environmental contaminants; federal
surveys nave found traces of o and /> but not m-
DCS in drinking water
•There ore insufficient data on the DC3s to identify the
mcjor route of environmental exposure
HEALTH EFFECTS
Humans:
•	Causes nausea, vomiting, headaches ana irritation
of the eyes and respiratory tract including runny nose
and swelling around ©yes, also causes anemia, ston
lesions, appetite toss, weight loss, yellow atropny of
the liver and adverse blood effects
•	o- and m-OCBs; SPA Cancer Classification D. Not
Classifiable
•	p-OCB: EPA Cancer Classification B2. Protocol©
Human Carcinogen
Experimental Animals;
•	Hign oral doses—acute central nervous system
disturbances, kidney and liver damage, death usually
due to respiratory depression
•	14-Day oral studies in mice with o- and p-OCSs caused
damage to liver, spleen, and thymus
•	13-Week oral exposures to o-ana p-OCBs in rats and
mice—adverse cnanges in liver, thymus. so'een.
kidney. Done marrow, skeletal ana muscle tissue,
and small intestine
•	Long-term inhalation exposure—liver and Sidney
lesions
•	in an oral cancer bioossoy on p-OCB. kianey and
liver cancer reported; O-0C3 not carcinogenic
•	No available data on reproductive effects; o and o
DCS produced no adverse developmental effects
•	OCB not mutagenic in animals; p-OCB mutagenic in
higher plants; o- and p-OCBs not mutagenic in some
bacterial assays but increase mutations n fungus
Releases:
•	Release® of o-OCB and m-OCBaresmaltthe majority
of p-CC3 croduced is released during its use as a
aeodorant and moth repellent
•	Released to the environment by evaporation
Environmental Felt:
•	When released to the ground, they bind to soft and
slowly migrate to ground water
•	Bioaccumuiate in fish, aquatic invertebrc^,andalgc»

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REGULATORY HISTORY
ANALYTICAL METHODS
Existing Standards:
•	Clean Air Act (CAA): Registered
« Clean Water Act (CWA): Reportable Quantity 100
pounds
•	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
Listed
•	Superfund (CERCLA): Reportable Quantify 100
pounds
•	SARA: Listed
•	Federal insecticide, Fungicide, end Rodenttcide
Act (FIFRA): Registered
•	Toxic Substances Control Act 
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