Chemical Properties
Kerosene is a white to pale yellow, flammable liquid that has wide use in household and industrial activities. For instance, in heating, as cooking fuel, in cleaning, degreasing, as a solvent, for paints, enamels, polishes, varnishes, and in asphalt coating.
Definition
ChEBI: An organochlorine compound with insecticidal activity.
General Description
Odorless colorless crystalline solid.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
A halogenated ketone. Ketones are reactive with many acids and bases liberating heat and flammable gases (e.g., H2). The amount of heat may be sufficient to start a fire in the unreacted portion of the ketone. Ketones react with reducing agents such as hydrides, alkali metals, and nitrides to produce flammable gas (H2) and heat. Ketones are incompatible with isocyanates, aldehydes, cyanides, peroxides, and anhydrides. They react violently with aldehydes, HNO3, HNO3 + H2O2, and HClO4.
Health Hazard
INHALATION AND INGESTION: These symptoms present in all affected patients Neurologic Impairment anxiety, irritability, memory disturbance, headache, tremors, opsiclonus, stuttering, slurred speech, and abnormal tandem gait.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for KEPONE (TM) are not available; however, KEPONE (TM) is probably combustible.
Health Hazard
Kerosene toxicity is variable and is based on the composition. It is rapidly absorbed by the skin and accidental ingestion results in mucous membrane irritation, gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonitis, CNS depression, drowsiness, coma, and may lead to death. Prolonged contact is also known to cause skin blisters and dermatitis. Studies with non-human primates have demonstrated that aerosols and kerosene aspiration into the lungs cause cellular damage. Household activities and possible long-term exposures to kerosine require proper care to avoid skin contact and possible damage. Kerosene should never be sucked by mouth.
Potential Exposure
Kepone was registered for the control
of rootborers on bananas with a residue tolerance of
0.01 ppm. This constituted the only food or feed use
of Kepone. Nonfood uses included wireworm control in
tobacco fields and bait to control ants and other insects in
indoor and outdoor areas. A rebuttable presumption
against registration of chlordecone was issued by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency on
March 25, 1976 on the basis of oncogenicity. The trademarked Kepone and products of six formulations were the
subject of voluntary cancellation according to a United
States Environmental Protection Agency notice dated
July 27, 1977. In a series of decisions, the first of which
was issued on June 17, 1976, the EPA effectively
canceled all registered products containing Kepone as of
May 1, 1978.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Speed in removing material from skin
is of extreme importance. Shampoo hair promptly if contaminated. Seek medical attention immediately. If this
chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin
rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Qualified medical personnel may consider the administration of cholestyramine resin (QUESTRAN). Medical personnel should wear Neoprene gloves as protection against
contamination (Dreisbach).
Shipping
UN2761 Organochlorine pesticides, solid, toxic,
Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.
Incompatibilities
Acids, acid fumes.
Waste Disposal
A process has been developed
which effects chlordecone degradation by treatment of aqueous wastes with UV radiation in the presence of hydrogen in
aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Up to 95% decomposition was effected by this process. Chlordecone previously
presented serious disposal problems because of its great
resistance to bio- and photo degradation in the environment.
It is highly toxic to normally occur in degrading microorganisms. Although it can undergo some photodecomposition
when exposed to sunlight to the dihydro compound (leaving
a compound with 8 chloro substituents) that degradation
product does not significantly reduce toxicity. Disposal by
incineration with HCl scrubbing is recommended.
Physical properties
Colorless to tan, odorless, noncombustible, crystalline solid
Uses
Chlordecone, a chlorinated dicyclodiene compound, was
introduced under the trade name Kepone in 1958. In the
United States, Kepone found use as an ant and cockroach
poison. Outside the United States, it was used primarily as a
pesticide against the banana root borer. The compound is the
ketone analog of mirex; it is a contaminant of mirex and is
also a product of mirex degradation.
Uses
Formerly as insecticide, fungicide.
Uses
Insecticide; fungicide.
Carcinogenicity
Kepone (chlordecone) is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals.
Environmental Fate
Photolytic. Kepone-contaminated soils from a site in Hopewell, VA were analyzed by
GC/MS. 8-Chloro and 9-chloro homologs identified suggested these were photodegradation
products of kepone (Borsetti and Roach, 1978). Products identified from the photolysis
of kepone in cyclohexane were 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,10,10-nonachloro-5,5-dihydroxypentacyclo[
5.3.0.02,6.03,9.04,8]decane for the hydrate and 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,10,10-nonachloro-5,5-
dimethoxypentacyclo[5.3.0.02,6.03,9.04,8]decane (Alley et al., 1974).
Chemical/Physical. Readily reacts with moisture forming hydrates (Hollifield, 1979).
Decomposes at 350°C (Windholz et al., 1983) probably emitting toxic chlorine fumes.
storage
Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Storein a secure poison location. Prior to working with Keponeyou should be trained on its proper handling and storage. Aregulated, marked area should be established where thischemical is handled, used, or stored in compliance withOSHA Standard 1910.1045. Store in a cool, dry place in arefrigerator under inert atmosphere. Keep away fromacids and acid fumes.
