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What is Hexachlorobenzene?

HCB is a white crystalline solid which was commonly used as a pesticide until 1965. In the past, HCB was also used as a fungicide to protect seeds of wheat and for a variety of industrial purposes. HCB is a persistent, bioacculumative, and toxic (PBT) pollutants target by EPA.

Why Are We Concerned About HCB?

Because HCB is persistent and bioaccumulative, it stays in our environment for a long time and contaminates our food chain. HCB can cause severe health problems for humans and other wildlife.

What harmful effects can HCB have on us?

• Damages bones, kidneys, and blood cells
• Can harm the immune system
• Lowers the survival rates of young children
• Can cause abnormal fetal development
• Harms the liner, endocrine, and nervous system
• May cause cancer

How are we exposed to HCB?

• Infants exposed through breast milk
• During pregnancy, unborn children can be exposed through the mother's blood stream
• By eating foods such as meat and poultry if those animals are exposed from contaminated feed
• By drinking dairy products where the cattle have been exposed through their feed By eating contaminated fish and shellfish
• Breathed in in urban air

Where can HCB be found?

Although HCB is no longer directly used, it is still found in our environment as a by-product of certain activities and because of past use.

Past uses:

• Used to make fireworks and ammunition
• Used to manufacture synthetic rubber
• Used as a fungicide to protect wheat and other seeds

Potential Sources to our Environment:

• By-product when making other chlorine-containing compounds
• Found in water sediments
• By-product when manufacturing some pesticides
• Use of HCB-contaminated pesticides
• Found in chlorination treatment of process water and wastewater
• Incineration of municipal and hazardous wastes
• By-product when making chemical solvents (chemicals used to dissolve other chemicals)

http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt/hexa.htm