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`X 0XNI.T 1'll' - C111,01M'ICRIN <br />http://ace.orst.cdu/cgi-bin/mts/01 /pipsichloropt.lit m <br />one of five tester strains in the presence of an exogenous metabolic activation system but testing in <br />higher order cells (mammalian cells) did not confirm the potential for chloropicrin to produce gene <br />mutation. Chloropicrin did not cause damage to mammalian cell DNA. In vitro testing of <br />mammalian cell chromosomes for damage (breaks, exchange figures, fragments, etc.) produced <br />evidence suggestive of a clastogenic effect but the data were equivocal. <br />• Carcinogenic Effects: Six long-term bioassays have been performed to evaluate the potential of <br />chloropicrin to cause chronic and/or carcinogenic effects by inhalation, oral, and gavage dosing <br />(272, 276). Chronic toxicity was limited to inflammatory and other degenerative changes associated <br />with chronic wound healing at the portal -of -entry and at associated tissues (i.e. rodent forestomach <br />following life-long oral dosing). No neoplastic or tumorigenic response was produced by <br />chloropicrin in any species tested by the three routes of exposure. <br />• Organ Toxicity: Target organs for chloropicrin toxicity include eyes, skin, respiratory tract and <br />tissue associated with portal -of -entry into the body. <br />• Fate in Mammals: The octanol/water partition coefficient (Log 10 Kow) is 2.50 at 25 degrees C <br />indicating that chloropicrin would not be expected to bioaccumulate in mammalian cells (277). <br />ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS <br />Effects on Birds: Little information is available about the effects of chloropicrin on bird life. A <br />feeding study in chickens (278) demonstrated no adverse effects at doses as high as 100 ppm for <br />120 days. This was the highest dose tested. <br />Effects on Aquatic Organisms: Chloropicrin is toxic to fish. For trout and bluegill the 96 -hour <br />LC50 was 0.0165 mg/L and 0.105 mg/L respectively (278). <br />Effects on Other Animals (Nontarget species): When used according to label, exposure to <br />nontarget species is unlikely. However, because of its toxicity to mammals and invertebrates, it can <br />be assumed that chloropicrin may be harmful to many nontarget organisms. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL FATE <br />Breakdown of Chemical in Soil and Groundwater: The half-life of chloropicrin in sandy loam <br />soil was 8-24 hours (279) and 4.5 days (280) with carbon dioxide being the terminal breakdown <br />product (280). Chloropicrin moves rapidly in soils within twelve inches of injection but may diffuse <br />to a maximum depth of four feet in sandy soil (281). Since it is only slightly soluble in water, it will <br />not move rapidly in aquatic environments. In an anaerobic aquatic/soil system, chloropicrin was <br />converted to nitromethane with a half-life of 1.3 hours (282). In the absence of sunlight or <br />microorganisms, chloropicrin does not undergo hydrolysis (283, 284). The calculated Henry's Law <br />Constant is 2.51 x 10 to the minus 3 atm meters cubed mole -1 (285). The Koc for silt loam and <br />agricultural sand soils was 5.29 and 93.59 respectively (289). Chloropicrin can be produced during <br />chlorination of drinking water if nitrated organic contaminants are present (286, 287). In a sampling <br />of 1,386 wells in California between 1984 and 1989, no chloropicrin was detected (288). In a <br />sampling of 15,175 wells in Florida, chloropicrin was found in three wells at 0.035-0.068 Hg/L <br />(288). <br />Breakdown of Chemical in Surface Water: Since chloropicrin has a higher density than water <br />(1.65 9/ml) and is only slightly soluble, it will sink to the bottom of surface water. The half-life of <br />chloropicrin in water exposed to light was 31.1 hours with carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, chloride, <br />nitrate and nitrite being the breakdown products (284). <br />Breakdown of Chemical in Plants: No chloropicrin or nitromethane was detected in crops grown <br />in soil treated with radiolabelled chloropicrin (290). Carbon dioxide, as the terminal breakdown <br />product, was metabolized by plants and incorporated into natural plant biochemical compounds via <br />the single carbon pool (291). <br />ol'-1 <br />5/1'_ 00 104 1) NI <br />