Chemical name: 4,7-Methano-1H-indene, 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-octachloro-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

All agricultural and stock remedy formulations containing Chlordane as an active ingredient.

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

No agricultural or stock remedies allowed.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

The acquisition, disposal, sale or use of an agricultural and stock remedy which contains Chlordane was prohibited as from the 30 March 2005.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Exposure to Chlordane metabolites may be associated with testicular cancer.

The incidence of seminoma in men with the highest blood levels of cis-nonachlor was almost double that of men with the lowest levels. Prostate cancer has been associated with trans-nonachlor levels, a component of Chlordane.

It is absorbed into the body through the lungs, stomach, and skin. It is stored in fatty tissues as well as in the kidneys, muscles, liver, and brain. Chlorinated hydrocarbons stored in fatty tissues can be released into

circulation if these fatty tissues are metabolized, as in starvation or intense activity. Rats that breathed Chlordane vapour for 30 minutes retained 77% of the total amount inhaled. Rabbits that received 4 doses of Chlordane stored it in fatty tissues, the brain, kidneys, liver, and muscles. Excretion of orally administered Chlordane is slow and can take days to weeks. The biological half-life of Chlordane in the blood serum of a 4-year-old child who drank an emulsifiable concentrate of Chlordane was 88 days. In another accidental poisoning of a 20-month-old child, the half-life was 21 days.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

The prevention of possible adverse effects on the population of South Africa resulting from the use of Chlordane as agricultural and stock remedies.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

The Decision Guidance Document on Chlordane prepared by the UNEP/FAO for the Secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade indicates that the Chlordane is hydrophobic and it adheres to soil particles and enters groundwater only slowly owing to its low solubility (0.009 ppm). The concern is its demonstrated carcinogenic response in laboratory rodents and its potential impact on human health from widespread environmental contamination in the food chain. It degrades only over the course of years.

Chlordane bioaccumulates in animals, bacteria and in marine and freshwater fish species [6]. It is highly toxic to fish, with an LD₅₀ of 0.022-0.095 mg/kg (oral).

The 96-hour LC₅₀ for bluegill is 57 to .74.8 µg/L, and 42 to 90 µg/L for rainbow trout.

Chlordane is highly toxic to birds. The LD₅₀ for bobwhite quail is 83 mg/kg. The 8-day dietary LD₅₀ for chlordane in mallard ducks is 858 ppm of the diet, 331 ppm in bobwhite quail, and 430 ppm in pheasant.

Chlordane is highly toxic to bees and earthworms.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

Reduction of Chlordane in the environment.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 30/03/2005