Where are chlorinated hydrocarbons found?

What Are Chlorinated Hydrocarbons? Chlorinated hydrocarbons are chemical compounds of chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon atoms only. Many of them form the building blocks of other chemical products such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, and solvents.

Are chlorinated hydrocarbons still used?

Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides and organophosphate compounds are used regularly around poultry houses to control external parasites. Commonly used organochlorine insecticides include chlordane, dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, and lindane.

Is chloroform a chlorinated hydrocarbon?

Chloroform is the name given to the chlorinated hydrocarbon compound trichloromethane.

What is a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides?

Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides (OCs) are diverse synthetic chemicals that belong to several groups, based on chemical structure. DDT is the best known of these insecticides.

Why are chlorinated hydrocarbons?

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) is a generic term given to compounds containing chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. The term can be used to describe organochlorine pesticides such as lindane and DDT, industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and chlorine waste products such as dioxins and furans.

Why are chlorinated hydrocarbons toxic?

Mechanism of toxicity

Chlorinated hydrocarbons are neurotoxins that interfere with transmission of nerve impulses, especially in the brain, resulting in behavioral changes, involuntary muscle activity, and depression of the respiratory center.

What is the main concern with the chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides when compared with other classes of pesticides?

Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides are highly soluble in fats and oils. In addition, they persist for extended periods of time in the environment, thus contributing to chronic toxicity.

Why do chlorinated hydrocarbons decompose slowly?

The chemical stability of the C–Cl bond is a major problem, which often causes polychlorinated compounds to be minimally degradable by most environmental micro-organisms [2–4].

Are chlorinated hydrocarbons flammable?

Abstract. Chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, such as trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane, have been used widely in many industries because of their ready ability to dissolve oils, greases, and other materials, their low acute toxicity, and their non-flammability.

Is a chlorinated hydrocarbon an organic solvent?

Many classes of chemicals are used as organic solvents, including aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines, esters, ethers, ketones, and nitrated or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Organic solvents are used in many industries.

Can chlorinated hydrocarbons be absorbed through the skin?

Toxicokinetics. Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides are highly lipid-soluble and are readily absorbed through the skin and across mucous membranes, although they are not particularly volatile and therefore inhalation is not an important route of exposure.

What are chlorinated pollutants?

Chlorinated organic pollutants are highly toxic and widespread in the environment, which cause ecological risk and threaten the human health. Chlorinated pollutants are difficult to degrade and mineralize by the conventional advanced oxidation process as the C–Cl bond is resistant to reactive oxygen species oxidation.

What is the mode of action of chlorinated hydrocarbons?

Abstract. Evidence on the mode of action of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides is reviewed and discussed. DDT and its analogs act mainly at the nerve axon by interfering with Na+ and K+ conductance gating.

What are organophosphates used for?

Organophosphates are the most widely used insecticides today. They are used in agriculture, the home, gardens, and veterinary practice. Organophosphate insecticides (such as diazinon) are one type of pesticide that works by damaging an enzyme in the body called acetylcholinesterase.

What is DDT in biology?

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an insecticide used in agriculture. The United States banned the use of DDT in 1972. Some countries outside the United States still use DDT to control of mosquitoes that spread malaria.

Is chlorine responsible for groundwater pollution?

Groundwater pollution can potentially cause serious deterioration of soil and groundwater quality1,2. Because groundwater pollution from petrochemical chlorinated hydrocarbons may travel through soils easily, it can seep into underground drinking water supplies and stay there for months.

What are examples of organophosphate?

Examples of organophosphates include the following: Insecticides – Malathion, parathion, diazinon, fenthion, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos, ethion. Nerve gases – Soman, sarin, tabun, VX. Ophthalmic agents – Echothiophate, isoflurophate.

Is roundup an organophosphate?

Glyphosate (1) is a non-selective, systematic herbicide. This organophosphate compound is the active ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup.