IPCS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
Health and Safety Guide No. 2
KELEVAN
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDE
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, GENEVA 1987
This is a companion volume to Environmental Health Criteria 66:
Kelevan
Published by the World Health Organization for the International
Programme on Chemical Safety (a collaborative programme of the United
Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation,
and the World Health Organization)
This report contains the collective views of an international group of
experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated
policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International
Labour Organisation, or the World Health Organization
ISBN 924154366 3
ISSN 0259-7268
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(c) World Health Organization 1987
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CONTENTS
IPCS
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDE FOR KELEVAN
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THE GUIDE
1. PRODUCT IDENTITY AND USES
1.1. Identity
1.2. Physical and chemical properties
1.3. Composition
1.4. Uses
2. SUMMARY AND EVALUATION
2.1. Transport and distribution
2.2. Effects on the environment
2.3. Effects on animals and microorganisms
2.4. Effects on human beings
3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4. HEALTH HAZARDS FOR MAN, PREVENTION AND PROTECTION, EMERGENCY
ACTION
4.1. Safe handling
5. HAZARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR PREVENTION
INTRODUCTION
The International Programme on Chemical Safety is responsible for the
publication of a series of Environmental Health Criteria documents,
each of which assesses the existing information on the relationship
between exposure to a specific chemical, mixture of chemicals, or
combination of chemicals and physical and biological agents, and man's
health and the integrity of the environment. The documents provide
guidelines for setting exposure limits consistent with the protection
of human health and the environment.
To facilitate the application of these guidelines in national chemical
safety programmes, "Health and Safety Guides" are being prepared,
highlighting the information contained in the documents for those who
need to know the health and environmental issues involved, but not the
scientific details. The Guides include advice on preventive and
protective measures and emergency action.
Review and revision of the information in this Health and Safety Guide
will take place in due course, and the eventual aim is to use
standardized terminology. We should be grateful if you would help by
telling us of any difficulties encountered in using the information in
this guide.
Comments please, addressed to:
The Manager
International Programme on Chemical Safety
Division of Environmental Health
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
HOW TO USE THE GUIDE
All people in the work-place environment should be given the relevant
written information in this book, supplemented by a clear, personal
explanation to ensure that they are fully aware of the dangers and the
current courses of protective and emergency action.
* * *
Further copies of the Health and Safety Guide and, for those requiring
more detailed scientific information, the relevant Environmental
Health Criteria publication, are available to order.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS GUIDE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A STARTING POINT
TO A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMME
1. PRODUCT IDENTITY AND USES
1.1 Identity
Molecular formula: C17H12Cl10O4
Chemical structure:
Trade names: Despirol, Elevat,
GC-9160, General
Chemicals 9160
CAS chemical name: ethyl 1, la, 3, 3a, 4, 5, 5a, 5b, 6
decachlorooctahydro-alpha-2-hydroxy
gamma-oxo-1, 3, 4-metheno-I H-cyclabuta
[ cd] pentalene -2-pentanoate (9 CI)
CAS registry number: 4234-79-1
1.2 Physical and Chemical Properties
Kelevan is a white powder. Technical grade kelevan is a brownish
substance. It is slightly soluble in water and readily soluble in most
organic solvents. Some physical and chemical properties of kelevan are
given in the table.
Some physical and chemical properties of kelevan
Physical state solid, powder
Colour white
Relative molecular mass 634.79
Melting point 91°C
Vapour pressure (20°C) < 0.0014 Pa (= < 10-2 mm Hg)
Solubility in water (20°C) 5.5 mg/litre
(readily soluble in most
organic solvents)
Decomposition > 170°C
From: Maier-Bode (1976).
1.3 Composition
Technical grade kelevan contains 94-98% pure kelevan, 0.1-2%
chlordecone, and 0.5-4.0% inorganic salts.
1.4 Uses
The compound has mainly been used, as a dust or wettable powder, to
control the potato beetle and some other pests on bananas, beets, and
corn. Reference has been made to the use of kelevan in South America
and in central and southeastern Europe. Responses received from 49
countries throughout the world indicated that kelevan had never been
registered for use, or used, in 33 of them. In Spain, registration
expired in 1975. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the use of
kelevan has been forbidden since 1982. In Hungary and the USSR, it is
still registered, but no longer used.
2. SUMMARY AND EVALUATION
2.1 Transport and Distribution
Kelevan is a derivative of chlordecone and can be oxidized to
chlordecone.
While kelevan is fairly rapidly degraded in the soil, chlordecone
persists for several years. There is very little leaching of kelevan
and its break-down products from the upper 10 cm of soil into lower
layers and into drainage water. Crops, especially carrots, grown on
treated fields contained very low levels of kelevan or its break-down
products, including chlordecone.
2.2 Effects on the Environment
No effects on the environment have been reported during the use of
kelevan, and it has been shown experimentally not to be highly toxic
for bees, hens, rainbow trout, or soil microflora with short-term
exposures.
2.3 Effects on Animals and Microorganisms
In experimental animals, kelevan is absorbed following ingestion,
inhalation, and via the skin, and accumulates in the liver, brain, and
adipose tissue.
It is moderately toxic for the rat. Symptoms of poisoning include
apathy, tremors, central nervous system hyper-sensitivity, and
tonic-clonic convulsions. When administered orally to rats for a
number of months, necrosis of the liver and kidneys was seen.
No abnormalities were found in reproduction studies on mice, when low
doses were given. Teratogenic effects have not been adequately
evaluated.
Kelevan was not mutagenic in systems using microorganisms. No
carcinogenicity studies are available for kelevan, but studies on rats
and mice have shown sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity for
chlordecone, which is a major break-down product of kelevan.
2.4 Effects on Human Beings
No data are available concerning levels of exposure to kelevan for the
general population or in the work-place.
No adverse health effects on human beings have been reported from
exposure to kelevan.
3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In view of the sparsity of available data, it is quite impossible, at
this stage, to arrive at an informed evaluation of kelevan with regard
to both its danger for workers and the possible consumer hazards from
food residues.
Therefore, since kelevan is converted to chlordecone in the mammalian
body and in the environment, and the toxicity data available are
similar to those for chlordecone, the evaluation of chlordecone should
largely apply to kelevan, which, in practice, means that, unless
kelevan is indispensable, it should not be used.
From: Environmental Health Criteria 66: Kelevan
4. HEALTH HAZARDS FOR MAN, PREVENTION AND PROTECTION, EMERGENCY
ACTION
4.1 Safe Handling
In view of the conclusions, neither safe handling advice nor an
International Chemical Safety Card have been prepared.
5. HAZARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR PREVENTION
The available data are too few to make an informed assessment of the
likely impact of kelevan on the environment, especially on a long-term
basis.