Halogens toxicity

Tundo, P. 1986. Process for the decomposition and decontamination of organic substances and halogenated toxic materials. U.S. Patent 4,632,742, Dec. 30 cited in Chem. Abstr. CA 106(22) 182155s. 

Combustion in an incinerator is the only practical way to deal with many waste streams.This is particularly true of solid and concentrated wastes and toxic wastes such as those containing halogenated hydrocarbons, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Many of the toxic substances encountered resist biological degradation and persist in the natural environment for a long period of time. Unless they are in dilute aqueous solution, the most effective treatment is usually incineration. 

Cm.OROCARBONSANDCm.OROHYDROCARBONS - TOXIC AROMATICS] (Vol 6) Halogenated butyl rubber... 

In general, the acute toxicity of halogenated flame retardants is quite low. Tables 11—14 contain acute toxicity information from various manufacturers material safety data sheets (MSDS) for some of the flame retardants and intermediates Hsted in the previous tables. The latest MSDS should always be requested from the suppHer in order to be assured of having up-to-date information about the toxicity of the products as well as recommendations regarding safe handling. 

No toxicity data have been reported on the other halogen fluorides, but all should be regarded as highly toxic and extremely irritating to all living... 

Health and Safety Factors. Fluorocarbons containing bromine or iodine are more toxic than the corresponding chloro compounds. When the ratio of the fluorine to other halogens is high, the toxicity can be quite low, especially for bromofluorocarbons. Perfluoro-l-bromooctane [423-55-2] has an LD q of greater than 64 mL/kg when adininistered into the gastrointestinal tract, and has Htde effect when instilled into the lungs (49). Other examples are included in Table 7. 

Eor laboratory use, cyclopentadienylthalLium [34822-90-7] reacts cleanly with TiX compounds, where X is halogens (258—264). The cost and toxicity of thallium compounds ate drawbacks to large-scale use. However, Cp2Pb may, in certain cases, be useful (see Lead compounds Thallium and thallium compounds) (265). 

Boron trichlorides are highly reactive, toxic, and corrosive these ttihaUdes (BCl, BBr, BI ) react vigorously, even explosively, with water. High temperature decomposition of BX can yield toxic halogen-containing fumes. Safe handling, especially of BCl, has been reviewed (11,80). 

Potable Water Treatment. Treatment of drinking water accounts for about 24% of the total activated carbon used in Hquid-phase apphcations (74). Rivers, lakes, and groundwater from weUs, the most common drinking water sources, are often contaminated with bacteria, vimses, natural vegetation decay products, halogenated materials, and volatile organic compounds. Normal water disinfection and filtration treatment steps remove or destroy the bulk of these materials (75). However, treatment by activated carbon is an important additional step in many plants to remove toxic and other organic materials (76—78) for safety and palatability. 

Commercial PCBs Toxic and Biochemical Effects. PCBs and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons ehcit a diverse spectmm of toxic and biochemical responses in laboratory animals dependent on a number of factors including age, sex, species, and strain of the test animal and the dosing regimen (single or multiple) (27—32). In Bobwhite and Japanese quad, the LC q dose for several different commercial PCB preparations ranged from 600 to 30,000 ppm in the diet the LC q values for mink that were fed Aroclors 1242 and 1254 were 8.6 and 6.7 ppm in the diet, respectively (8,28,33). The... 

Halogenation. Halogens and halogen acids add readily to the unsaturated carbon linkages of the cyclopentadiene molecule. By such additions a series of halogenated derivatives range, in the case of the chloride, from 3-chlotocydopentene to tetrachlorocyclopentane. Of all the possible chloto derivatives of CPD, only hexachlorocyclopentadiene [77-47-4] ever reached commercial status. It was used as an insecticide, but this use has been discontinued because of its toxicity (see Chlorocarbons and chlorohydrocarbons, toxic aromatics). It can be prepared by a Hquid phase chlorination of CPD below 50°C (29). 

Polyisobutylene and isobutylene—isoprene copolymers are considered to have no chronic hazard associated with exposure under normal industrial use. Some grades can be used in chewing-gum base, and are regulated by the PDA in 21 CPR 172.615. Vulcanized products prepared from butyl mbber or halogenated butyl mbber contain small amounts of toxic materials as a result of the particular vulcanization chemistry. Although many vulcanizates are inert, eg, zinc oxide cured chlorobutyl is used extensively in pharmaceutical stoppers, specific recommendations should be sought from suppHers. 

---