Description
1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(4-
ethylphenyl)ethane (mp 60–61 ?C) is a rapidly biodegradable
insecticide with very low mammalian toxicity, rat
oral LD
50 8170 mg/kg. It has been used as a household
insecticide.
Chemical Properties
Crystalline solid; mp 56°C (132.8°F); insoluble in water; soluble in acetone, kerosene,and diesel fuel.
General Description
Crystals when pure. Technical grade a light yellow waxy solid.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
PERTHANE (TM) is sensitive to heat. PERTHANE (TM) is incompatible with alkalis. PERTHANE (TM) is readily dehydrochlorinated. PERTHANE (TM) is slightly corrosive to iron, zinc, and aluminum.
Health Hazard
Mildly toxic by ingestion; the oral medianlethal doses in all experimental animalswere >5000 mg/kg; however, producedmoderate to severe effects when administeredintravenously; toxic properties are somewhatsimilar to those of DDT; susceptible tostorage in fat; also bioaccumulative; ateratogenic substance; sufficient evidenceof carcinogenicity in mice, but inadequateevidence in other animals; cancer-causingeffects in human unknown.
LD50 oral (rat): 6600 mg/kg
LD50 oral (wild bird): 9000 mg/kg
LD50 intravenous (rat): 73 mg/kg.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for PERTHANE (TM) are not available. PERTHANE (TM) is probably combustible.
Safety Profile
Poison by intravenous
route. Mdly toxic by ingestion.
Questionable carcinogen with experimental
carcinogenic and tumorigenic data.
Experimental teratogenic and reproductive
effects. Mutation data reported. A pesticide.
When heated to decomposition it emits
toxic fumes of Cl-. See also
CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS,
ALIPHATIC.
