Disclaimer: These guidelines were developed under contract using generally accepted secondary sources. The protocol used by the contractor for surveying these data sources was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). The information contained in these guidelines is intended for reference purposes only. None of the agencies have conducted a comprehensive check of the information and data contained in these sources. It provides a summary of information about chemicals that workers may be exposed to in their workplaces. The secondary sources used for supplements 111 and 1V were published before 1992 and 1993, respectively, and for the remainder of the guidelines the secondary sources used were published before September 1996. This information may be superseded by new developments in the field of industrial hygiene. Therefore readers are advised to determine whether new information is available.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR HEPTACHLOR

INTRODUCTION

This guideline summarizes pertinent information about heptachlor for workers and employers as well as for physicians, industrial hygienists, and other occupational safety and health professionals who may need such information to conduct effective occupational safety and health programs. Recommendations may be superseded by new developments in these fields; readers are therefore advised to regard these recommendations as general guidelines and to determine whether new information is available.

SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

* Formula

C(10)H(5)Cl(7)

* Structure

(For Structure, see paper copy)

* Synonyms

1,4,5,6,7,8,8a-Heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetra-hydro-4,7-methanoindene;

heptachlorodicyclopentadiene; 3-chloro-chlordene; Drinox; Velsicol 104; Heptamul

* Identifiers

1. CAS No.: 76-44-8

2. RTECS No.: PC0700000

3. DOT UN: 2761 55 (organochlorine pesticides, nos)

4. DOT label: St. Andrew's Cross

* Appearance and odor

Heptachlor is a soft, white to light tan, waxy, noncombustible solid with a camphor-like odor. Heptachlor is available commercially as a dust, a dust concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, a wettable powder, or in oil solutions. An air odor threshold concentration of 0.02 ppm has bee reported for heptachlor

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

* Physical data

1. Molecular weight: 373.5

2. Boiling point (at 760 mm Hg): Decomposes

3. Specific gravity (water = 1): 1.57 at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F)

4. Vapor density: Not applicable.

5. Melting point: 95-96 degrees C (203-204.8 degrees F) (crystals)

6. Vapor pressure at 25 degrees C (77 degrees F): 0.0003 mm Hg

7. Solubility: Nearly insoluble in water; soluble in ether, acetone, benzene, and many other organic solvents.

8. Evaporation rate: Not applicable.

* Reactivity

1. Conditions contributing to instability: None reported.

2. Incompatibilities: Contact between melted heptachlor with iron and rust should be avoided.

3. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases and vapors (such as hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide) may be released in a fire involving heptachlor.

4. Special precautions: None reported.

* Flammability

Heptachlor is not combustible.

1. Flash point: Not applicable.

2. Autoignition temperature: Not applicable.

3. Flammable limits in air: Not applicable.

4. Extinguishant: Use an extinguishant that is suitable for the materials involved in the surrounding fire.

Fires involving heptachlor should be fought upwind from the maximum distance possible. Isolate the hazard area and deny access to unnecessary personnel. Firefighters should wear a full set of protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving heptachlor.

EXPOSURE LIMITS

* OSHA PEL

The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for heptachlor is 0.5 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m(3)) of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration. The OSHA PEL also bears a "Skin" notation, which indicates that the cutaneous route of exposure (including mucous membranes and eyes) contributes to overall exposure [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1].

* NIOSH REL

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended exposure limit (REL) for heptachlor of 0.5 mg/m(3) as a TWA for up to a 10-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. NIOSH also assigns a "Skin" notation to heptachlor. NIOSH considers heptachlor a potential occupational carcinogen [NIOSH 1992].

* ACGIH TLV

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has assigned heptachlor a threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.5 mg/m(3) as a TWA for a normal 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. The ACGIH also assigns a "Skin" notation to heptachlor. The ACGIH lists heptachlor as an animal carcinogen [ACGIH 1994, p. 22].

* Rationale for Limits

The NIOSH limit is based on the risk of cancer; liver tumors observed in animals [NIOSH 1992].

The ACGIH limit is based on the risk of liver injury, blood dyscrasia, and cancer [ACGIH 1991, p. 731].

HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION

* Routes of Exposure

Exposure to heptachlor can occur through inhalation, ingestion, eye or skin contact, and absorption through the skin [Sittig 1991, p. 869].

* Summary of toxicology

1. Effects on Animals: Heptachlor causes convulsions and behavioral symptoms in experimental animals; in mice, it causes liver cancer [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Heptachlor is also fetotoxic when pregnant females are fed 1 ppm or 5 ppm heptachlor during pregnancy [ACGIH 1991]. The oral LD(50) in rats is 40 mg/kg and the dermal LD(50) in rabbits is 119 mg/kg [Sax and Lewis 1989]. In rats exposed to lethal concentrations, tremor and convulsions were noted 30 to 60 minutes after onset of exposure; at autopsy, liver necrosis was seen [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Long-term feeding of heptachlor to rats produced cataracts in the eyes of offsprings [Grant 1986]. In chronic toxicity studies in dogs, rats, and mice, liver damage was seen in some of the animals of all species at dietary levels above 5 ppm [Clayton and Clayton 1982]. Oral administration of heptachlor and 20% chlordane solution produced liver neoplasms in mice; results for rats were inconclusive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that there is limited evidence of heptachlor's carcinogenicity in animals [IARC 1987].

2. Effects on Humans: By analogy with effects seen in animals, heptachlor is likely to cause tremors, convulsions, and other central nervous system effects in humans on acute exposure [Hathaway et al. 1991]. There are no reported cases of human poisoning with this substance. Domestic use of chlordane has been associated with cases of neuroblastoma, acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, and blood dyscrasias [IARC 1987]. A recent study reported 25 additional cases (bringing the total to 59) of blood dyscrasias, including leukemias, in persons living in homes treated for termites with heptachlor. In the only other study that specifically examined the relationship between aplastic anemia and exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides including heptachlor, a no dose-dependent relationship between pesticide and aplastic anemia was observed [ACGIH 1991]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has determined that there is inadequate evidence for carcinogenicity to humans [IARC 1987].

* Signs and symptoms of exposure

1. Acute exposure: No signs or symptoms of acute exposure to heptachlor have been reported in humans.

2. Chronic exposure: No signs or symptoms of chronic exposure to heptachlor have been reported in humans.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROCEDURES

* Emergency medical procedures: [NIOSH to supply]

5. Rescue: Remove an incapacitated worker from further exposure and implement appropriate emergency procedures (e.g., those listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]). All workers should be familiar with emergency procedures, the location and proper use of emergency equipment, and methods of protecting themselves during rescue operations.

EXPOSURE SOURCES AND CONTROL METHODS

The following operations may involve heptachlor and lead to worker exposures to this substance:

* The manufacture, formulation, and transportation of heptachlor

* Liberated during manufacture of heptachlor pesticide. Permitted by EPA for use only as a termite control agent

* Formerly used as an insecticide in seed treatment, in preplanting soil applications, for dipping tops of plants and roots for control of insects, flies, and mosquitoes, on household plots, agricultural crops, and fruits, and by veterinarians as a premise spray

Methods that are effective in controlling worker exposures to heptachlor, depending on the feasibility of implementation, are as follows:

* Process enclosure
* Local exhaust ventilation
* General dilution ventilation

* Personal protective equipment

Workers responding to a release or potential release of a hazardous substance must be protected as required by paragraph (q) of OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard [29 CFR 1910.120].

Good sources of information about control methods are as follows:

1. ACGIH [1992]. Industrial ventilation--a manual of recommended practice. 21st ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

2. Burton DJ [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a self study companion. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

3. Alden JL, Kane JM [1982]. Design of industrial ventilation systems. New York, NY: Industrial Press, Inc.

4. Wadden RA, Scheff PA [1987]. Engineering design for control of workplace hazards. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

5. Plog BA [1988]. Fundamentals of industrial hygiene. Chicago, IL: National Safety Council.

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE

OSHA is currently developing requirements for medical surveillance. When these requirements are promulgated, readers should refer to them for additional information and to determine whether employers whose employees are exposed to heptachlor are required to implement medical surveillance procedures.

* Medical Screening

Workers who may be exposed to chemical hazards should be monitored in a systematic program of medical surveillance that is intended to prevent occupational injury and disease. The program should include education of employers and workers about work-related hazards, early detection of adverse health effects, and referral of workers for diagnosis and treatment. The occurrence of disease or other work-related adverse health effects should prompt immediate evaluation of primary preventive measures (e.g., industrial hygiene monitoring, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment). A medical surveillance program is intended to supplement, not replace, such measures. To detect and control work-related health effects, medical evaluations should be performed (1) before job placement, (2) periodically during the term of employment, and (3) at the time of job transfer or termination.

* Preplacement medical evaluation

Before a worker is placed in a job with a potential for exposure to heptachlor, a licensed health care professional should evaluate and document the worker's baseline health status with thorough medical, environmental, and occupational histories, a physical examination, and physiologic and laboratory tests appropriate for the anticipated occupational risks. These should concentrate on the function and integrity of the liver and central nervous system (effects noted in animal).

A preplacement medical evaluation is recommended to assess medical conditions that may be aggravated or may result in increased risk when a worker is exposed to heptachlor at or below the prescribed exposure limit. The health care professional should consider the probable frequency, intensity, and duration of exposure as well as the nature and degree of any applicable medical condition. Such conditions (which should not be regarded as absolute contraindications to job placement) include a history and other findings consistent with diseases of the liver and central nervous system (effects noted in animal).

* Periodic medical evaluations

Occupational health interviews and physical examinations should be performed at regular intervals during the employment period, as mandated by any applicable Federal, State, or local standard. Where no standard exists and the hazard is minimal, evaluations should be conducted every 3 to 5 years or as frequently as recommended by an experienced occupational health physician. Additional examinations may be necessary if a worker develops symptoms attributable to heptachlor exposure. The interviews, examinations, and medical screening tests should focus on identifying the adverse effects of heptachlor on the liver or central nervous system (effects noted in animal). Current health status should be compared with the baseline health status of the individual worker or with expected values for a suitable reference population.

* Termination medical evaluations

The medical, environmental, and occupational history interviews, the physical examination, and selected physiologic or laboratory tests that were conducted at the time of placement should be repeated at the time of job transfer or termination to determine the worker's medical status at the end of his or her employment. Any changes in the worker's health status should be compared with those expected for a suitable reference population. Because occupational exposure to heptachlor may cause diseases with prolonged latent periods, the need for medical surveillance may extend well beyond the termination of employment.

* Biological monitoring

Biological monitoring involves sampling and analyzing body tissues or fluids to provide an index of exposure to a toxic substance or metabolite. No biological monitoring test acceptable for routine use has yet been developed for heptachlor.

WORKPLACE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

Determination of a worker's exposure to airborne heptachlor is made using a OSHA Versatile Sampler (OVS-2) 13 mm XAD-2 tube (270/140 mg sections, 20/60 mesh) with a glass fiber filter enclosed. Samples are collected at a maximum flow rate of 1 liter/minute until a maximum collection volume of 60 liters is reached. The sample is then treated with toluene. Analysis is conducted by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector (GC/ECD). This method is partially validated and is described in the OSHA Computerized Information System.

PERSONAL HYGIENE PROCEDURES

If heptachlor contacts the skin, workers should immediately wash the affected areas with soap and water.

Clothing contaminated with heptachlor should be removed immediately, and provisions should be made for the safe removal of the chemical from the clothing. Persons laundering the clothes should be informed of the hazardous properties of heptachlor.

A worker who handles heptachlor should thoroughly wash hands, forearms, and face with soap and water before eating, using tobacco products, using toilet facilities, applying cosmetics, or taking medication.

Workers should not eat, drink, use tobacco products, apply cosmetics, or take medication in areas where heptachlor or a solution containing heptachlor is handled, processed, or stored.

STORAGE

Heptachlor should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in tightly sealed containers that are labeled in accordance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]. Containers of heptachlor should be protected from physical damage and should not be allowed to contact iron or rust.

SPILLS AND LEAKS

In the event of a spill or leak involving heptachlor, persons not wearing protective equipment and fully-encapsulating, vapor-protective clothing should be restricted from contaminated areas until cleanup has been completed. The following steps should be undertaken following a spill or leak:

1. Notify safety personnel.

2. Remove all sources of heat and ignition.

3. Ventilate potentially explosive atmospheres.

4. Do not touch the spilled material; stop the leak if it is possible to do so without risk.

5. Use non-sparking tools.

6. For small dry spills, use a clean shovel and place the material into a clean, dry container; cover and remove the container from the spill area.

7. For small liquid spills, take up with sand or other noncombustible absorbent material and place into closed containers for later disposal.

8. For large liquid spills, build dikes far ahead of the spill to contain the heptachlor for later reclamation or disposal.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for emergency planning, reportable quantities of hazardous releases, community right-to-know, and hazardous waste management may change over time. Users are therefore advised to determine periodically whether new information is available.

* Emergency planning requirements

Heptachlor is not subject to EPA emergency planning requirements under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (Title III) in 42 USC 11022.

* Reportable quantity requirements for hazardous releases

A hazardous substance release is defined by EPA as any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of contaminated containers) of hazardous substances. In the event of a release that is above the reportable quantity for that chemical, employers are required to notify the proper Federal, State, and local authorities [40 CFR 355.40].

The reportable quantity of heptachlor is 1 pound. If an amount equal to or greater than this quantity is released within a 24-hour period in a manner that will expose persons outside the facility, employers are required to do the following:

- Notify the National Response Center immediately at (800) 424-8802 or at (202) 426-2675 in Washington, D.C. [40 CFR 302.6].

* Community right-to-know requirements

Employers who own or operate facilities in SIC codes 20 to 39 that employ 10 or more workers and that manufacture 25,000 pounds or more of heptachlor per calendar year or otherwise use 10,000 pounds or more of heptachlor per calendar year are required by EPA [40 CFR Part 372.30] to submit a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory form (Form R) to EPA reporting the amount of heptachlor emitted or released from their facility annually.

* Hazardous waste management requirements

EPA considers a waste to be hazardous if it exhibits any of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity as defined in 40 CFR 261.21-261.24. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) [40 USC 6901 et seq.], EPA has specifically listed many chemical wastes as hazardous. Heptachlor is listed as a hazardous waste under RCRA and has been assigned EPA Hazardous Waste No. P059. It is approved for land disposal after treatment and only if the concentration of heptachlor in the waste or treatment residual does not exceed 0.066 mg/kg.

Providing detailed information about the removal and disposal of specific chemicals is beyond the scope of this guideline. The U.S. Department of Transportation, EPA, and State and local regulations should be followed to ensure that removal, transport, and disposal of this substance are conducted in accordance with existing regulations. To be certain that chemical waste disposal meets EPA regulatory requirements, employers should address any questions to the RCRA hotline at (703) 412-9810 (in the Washington, D.C. area) or toll-free at (800) 424-9346 (outside Washington, D.C.). In addition, relevant State and local authorities should be contacted for information on any requirements they may have for the waste removal and disposal of this substance.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

* Conditions for respirator use

Good industrial hygiene practice requires that engineering controls be used where feasible to reduce workplace concentrations of hazardous materials to the prescribed exposure limit. However, some situations may require the use of respirators to control exposure. Respirators must be worn if the ambient concentration of heptachlor exceeds prescribed exposure limits. Respirators may be used (1) before engineering controls have been installed, (2) during work operations such as maintenance or repair activities that involve unknown exposures, (3) during operations that require entry into tanks or closed vessels, and (4) during emergencies. Workers should only use respirators that have been approved by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

* Respiratory protection program

Employers should institute a complete respiratory protection program that, at a minimum, complies with the requirements of OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard [29 CFR 1910.134]. Such a program must include respirator selection, an evaluation of the worker's ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator, the regular training of personnel, respirator fit testing, periodic workplace monitoring, and regular respirator maintenance, inspection, and cleaning. The implementation of an adequate respiratory protection program (including selection of the correct respirator) requires that a knowledgeable person be in charge of the program and that the program be evaluated regularly. For additional information on the selection and use of respirators and on the medical screening of respirator users, consult the latest edition of the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic [NIOSH 1987b] and the NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection [NIOSH 1987a].

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Workers should use appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment that must be carefully selected, used, and maintained to be effective in preventing skin contact with heptachlor. The selection of the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, sleeves, encapsulating suits) should be based on the extent of the worker's potential exposure to heptachlor. There are no published reports on the resistance of various materials to permeation by heptachlor.

To evaluate the use of PPE materials with heptachlor, users should consult the best available performance data and manufacturers' recommendations. Significant differences have been demonstrated in the chemical resistance of generically similar PPE materials (e.g., butyl) produced by different manufacturers. In addition, the chemical resistance of a mixture may be significantly different from that of any of its neat components.

Any chemical-resistant clothing that is used should be periodically evaluated to determine its effectiveness in preventing dermal contact. Safety showers and eye wash stations should be located close to operations that involve heptachlor.

Splash-proof chemical safety goggles or face shields (20 to 30 cm long, minimum) should be worn during any operation in which a solvent, caustic, or other toxic substance may be splashed into the eyes.

In addition to the possible need for wearing protective outer apparel (e.g., aprons, encapsulating suits), workers should wear work uniforms, coveralls, or similar full-body coverings that are laundered each day. Employers should provide lockers or other closed areas to store work and street clothing separately. Employers should collect work clothing at the end of each work shift and provide for its laundering. Laundry personnel should be informed about the potential hazards of handling contaminated clothing and instructed about measures to minimize their health risk.

Protective clothing should be kept free of oil and grease and should be inspected and maintained regularly to preserve its effectiveness.

Protective clothing may interfere with the body's heat dissipation, especially during hot weather or during work in hot or poorly ventilated work environments.

REFERENCES

ACGIH [1991]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

ACGIH [1994]. 1994-1995 Threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical agents and biological exposure indices. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

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Grant WM [1986]. Toxicology of the eye. 3rd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.

Hathaway GJ, Proctor NH, Hughes JP, and Fischman ML [1991]. Proctor and Hughes' chemical hazards of the workplace. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

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NIOSH [1987b]. NIOSH respirator decision logic. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-108.

NIOSH [1991]. Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances: Heptachlor. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer, Technical Information Branch.

NIOSH [1992]. Recommendations for occupational safety and health: Compendium of policy documents and statements. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-100.

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NJDH [1989]. Hazardous substance fact sheet: Heptachlor. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Department of Health.

NLM [1992]. Hazardous substances data bank: Heptachlor. Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine.

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