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Substance Name: Chlorothalonil, a fungicide widely used in agriculture and home gardening. Chemical Formula: C8Cl4N2O2. Common Forms: Available as wettable powders, granules, and sometimes in liquid concentrates. Recognized Synonyms: Sometimes known under trade names, though the active component stays the same. Typical Use: Disease protection for crops like peanuts, potatoes, and turfgrass.
Health Hazards: Skin and eye irritation can result from exposure. Longer-term or high-level contact increases risks, including allergic skin reactions. Chlorothalonil’s classification as a possible human carcinogen presents greater concern. Environmental Hazards: Toxicity for aquatic life can be significant, threatening water bodies near treated fields or lawns. Physical Hazards: Though not particularly volatile, dust or aerosol from improper use poses inhalation hazard.
Active Ingredient: Chlorothalonil, typically 70–90% by weight in concentrated products. Other Ingredients: Formulation additives like clays, surfactants, and inert carriers. The qualitative mix varies by manufacturer, but the active agent is responsible for most health concerns. Purity Concerns: Impurities can enhance reactivity or introduce new health worries.
Inhalation: Move individual to fresh air. Difficulty breathing? Seek medical assessment quickly. Skin Contact: Wash with soap and running water. Remove contaminated clothing right away. Wash clothes before next use. Eye Contact: Rinse with water, lifting eyelids occasionally to ensure thorough removal. Medical attention may be necessary if irritation or redness persists. Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting on your own. Rinse mouth. Ask for expert medical help immediately if significant amounts have been swallowed. General Suggestions: Keep emergency numbers on hand, since prompt medical care reduces complications.
Flammability: Pure chlorothalonil does not catch fire easily, but products containing it can include combustible carriers. Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide. Avoid strong water jets as they might spread contaminants. Special Hazards: Burning produces toxic fumes, including hydrogen chloride and nitrogen oxides. Protective equipment, including breathing apparatus, is essential for firefighting in such situations. Personal Precautions: Evacuate area if needed.
Personal Protection: Wear gloves, goggles, and breathing protection to avoid skin or eye contact and inhalation. Methods of Cleanup: Sweep or scoop spills with care, using tools that minimize dust. Contaminated surfaces should be rinsed with water, collecting waste for disposal. Environmental Precautions: Do not permit chlorothalonil to enter stormwater, sewers, or bodies of water. Barriers or absorbent materials can limit spread in the field or workplace.
Handling: Avoid creating dust or aerosols. Wear proper safety gear, and wash hands and face often during use. Avoid eating or drinking nearby. Storage: Store containers tightly closed, in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and incompatible materials. Keep away from food or animal feed to prevent accidental cross-contamination. Storage Containers: Use only original containers or those compatible with strong pesticides; unapproved containers raise the risk of leaks.
Exposure Limits: The U.S. does not set a workplace exposure limit for chlorothalonil, but some regions advise minimizing air concentrations and skin contact. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Gloves and long-sleeve shirts at a minimum, plus goggles. In enclosed spaces, a dust respirator may be necessary. Engineering Controls: Local ventilation, dust extraction, and eye-wash stations in workplaces dealing with concentrated products.
Appearance: Off-white crystalline solid or fine powder. Odor: Mild, musty, and sometimes pungent. Solubility: Practically insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents like acetone or dichloromethane. Melting Point: About 250°C. Stability: Breaks down slowly under sunlight, especially in wet conditions.
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage. Heat and ultraviolet light trigger slow breakdown. Conditions to Avoid: Strongly acidic or basic environments, high temperatures, and prolonged UV exposure. Incompatibilities: Oxidizing agents or strong acids can react with chlorothalonil, increasing danger. Hazardous Decomposition Products: Burning or decomposing forms small amounts of phosgene, hydrogen chloride, and nitrogen oxides, all highly toxic gases.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact all carry risks. Short-term Effects: Irritation, sneezing, sore throat, or eye redness can appear quickly. Long-term Effects: Allergic reactions or chronic eczema from skin contact; rodent studies link chlorothalonil to certain cancers, so farmworkers and applicators should take extra care. Target Organs: Kidney, liver, and respiratory system.
Toxicity to Fish and Aquatic Organisms: High. Runoff after heavy rain can kill fish, amphibians, and plankton. Degradation: Persists in soil for weeks or months under cool, damp conditions. Bioaccumulation: Not highly bioaccumulative, but breakdown products may linger and harm aquatic food chains.
Product Disposal: Never dump into drains or watercourses. Dispose as hazardous waste at an approved site. Container Disposal: Triple-rinse, then puncture or crush before disposal to prevent misuse. Burning can release dangerous fumes, so incineration should happen only under controlled, permitted conditions. Local Variations: Rules differ by state and country for handling chlorothalonil waste, so following local authority guidance ensures legal compliance and environmental safety.
Shipping Classification: Classified as hazardous for road, rail, sea, and air, due mainly to environmental hazard. Packing Group: Stringent rules limit leaks and spills during transport. Transport Labels: Most shipments require an environmental hazard warning label and documentation for customs and regulatory checks.
Global Restrictions: Not all countries permit the use of chlorothalonil. Some nations ban it based on cancer risk or water contamination history. Label Regulations: All products carry hazard statements, protective instructions, and restricted-use advisories as required by regulatory agencies. Monitoring: Authorities test local produce and water for residues, taking legal action if limits are exceeded. Worker Protection: Training, recordkeeping, and routine safety reviews: every agricultural workplace using this compound must answer strict health and safety requirements to reduce harm to both people and land around treated zones.
