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DESIGNATIONS
CAS No.: 60-57-1
Systematic name: Dieldrin
Chemical name: 1,2,3,4,10,10-Hexachloro-6,7-epoxy-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1,4,5,8-dimethanonaphthalene
Synonyms, Trade names: Alvit, Heod, Compound 497, Octalox, ENT 16,225
Chemical name (German): Dieldrin; 1,2,3,4,10,10-Hexachlor-6,7-epoxy-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1,4,5,8-dimethanonaphthalin
Chemical name (French): Dieldrine
Appearance: white, odourless crystals
BASIC CHEMICOPHYSICAL DATA
| Empirical formula: | C12H8Cl6O |
| Rel. molecular mass: | 380.91 g |
| Density: | 1.70 g/cm3 |
| Boiling point: | (decomposition) |
| Melting point: | 176-177°C |
| Vapour pressure: | 24 x 10-6 Pa at 25°C |
| Solvolysis/solubility: | in water: 0.1 mg/l miscible with petroleum, acetone and aromatic compounds |
| Conversion factors: | 1 ppm = 15.8 mg/m3 1 mg/m3 = 0.06 ppm |
ORIGIN AND USE
Usage:
Dieldrin is an insecticide used in particular to protect cotton
plants.
Origin/derivation:
Dieldrin is produced by epoxidation of aldrin, a process which
also occurs naturally.
Toxicity
| Humans: | LD50 64 mg/kg (estimated) | acc. MERCIER, 1981 |
| Mammals: | ||
| Rat: | LD50 46-63 mg/kg, oral | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| LD50 52-117 mg/kg, dermal | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 | |
| Mouse: | LD50 38-77 mg/kg, oral | acc. MERCIER, 1981 |
| Dog: | LD50 56-120 mg/kg, oral | acc. MERCIER, 1981 |
| Rabbit: | LD50 45-50 mg/kg, oral | acc. MERCIER, 1981 |
| Cow: | LD50 25 mg/kg, oral | acc. MERCIER, 1981 |
| Aquatic organisms: | ||
| Cyprinodont | LC50 5 ppb (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Mugilidae | LC50 23 ppb (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| American minnow | LC50 16 mg/l (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Blue perch | LC50 8 mg/l (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Rainbow trout | LC50 10 mg/l (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Water flea | LC50 250 mg/l (48 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Crawfish | LC50 460 mg/l (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Insects: | ||
| Pteronarcys california | LC50 0.5-39 µg/l (96 h) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
Characteristic effects:
Humans/mammals: Dieldrin can cause poisoning following resorption via the skin, oral intake or inhalation. It acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system and accumulates in fatty tissue causing severe damage to the liver and kidneys. Animal experiments have revealed a carcinogenic effect, but as yet no teratogenic action.
Plants: Dieldrin does not have a toxic effect on plants (MERCIER, 1981).
ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR
Water:
Accumulation takes place in aqueous systems on account of the
good solubility of the substance. Dieldrin is assigned in Germany
to water hazard class 3 (highly water-polluting) as a result of
the high toxicity in aquatic organisms.
Soil:
Dieldrin accumulates in soils depending on their texture and
water content.
Half-life:
Roughly 95 % of an applied quantity of between 3.1 and
5.6 kg/ha disappears from the soil after 12.8 years on
average. Only some 9 % evaporates out of loamy or sandy
soils in 60 days. Between 75 and 100 % of dieldrin is
degraded or decomposed in 3 - 25 years [VERSCHUEREN, 1983].
Environmental behaviour
Degradation, decomposition products:
Dieldrin is metabolised in the body to form
1,2-dihydroxy-dieldrin and 4,5-aldrin-trans-dihydrodial. UV light
causes decomposition to form CO2.
Food chain:
Dieldrin accumulates in fatty tissue and in the mammary glands of
human (WIRTH, 1981).
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
| Medium/ acceptor | Sector | Country/ organ. | Status |
Value | Cat. | Remarks | Source |
| Water: | Drinkw | D | L |
0.1 µg/l | single substance | acc. RIPPEN, 1992 | |
| Drinkw | D | L |
0.5 µg/l | sum of pesticides | acc. RIPPEN, 1992 | ||
| Drinkw | EC | L |
0.1 µg/l | single substance | acc. RIPPEN, 1992 | ||
| Drinkw | EC | L |
0.5 µg/l | sum of pesticides | acc. RIPPEN, 1992 | ||
| Drinkw | USA | G |
1 µg/l | In state of Illinois | acc. WAITE, 1984 | ||
| Soil: | NL | G |
0.5 µg/kg | Single substance, Reference | acc. TERRA TECH 6/94 | ||
| NL | L |
2.5 µg/kg | Aldrin+Dieldrin+Endrin Intervention | acc. TERRA TECH 6/94 | |||
| Air: | Workp | D | L |
0.25 mg/m3 | MAK | Skin | DFG, 1989 |
| Workp | SU | (L) |
0.01 mg/m3 | Skin | acc. KETTNER, 1979 | ||
| Workp | USA | (L) |
0.25 mg/m3 | TWA | Skin | ACGIH, 1986 |
Note:
There has been a total ban on the use of dieldrin in the Federal
Republic of Germany since 1988 (Order Governing Use of
Pesticides).
Comparison/reference values
| Medium/origin | Country | Value | Source |
| Surface/groundwater | |||
| Irish Sea (suspension) | IRL | 0.2-140 ng/g | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Hawaii (sediment) | USA | 2-39.5 ppb | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Los Angeles (harbour) | USA | 0.6 x 4.5 ppb | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 |
| Western Baltic (surface) | 0.17x10-9 g/l | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 | |
| North Sea, SE England/Holland | 0.4-17 ppb (1974-76) | acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983 | |
Assessment/comments
Dieldrin is a highly toxic substance towards aquatic organisms and is highly persistent in the environment. In addition, it accumulates in fatty tissue and can also cause severe poisoning in humans. Therefore, its use should be restricted as far as possible.