Hexachlorobenzene
Fungicide which was mainly used in seed treatment and as wood and timber preservative
Furthermore, it is a flame retardant and plasticiser. In pyrotechnics it is used in smoke munitions. Hexachlorobenzene is the precursor of a number of compounds such as pentachlorophenol and is a by-product in the production of many plastics and solvents.
Due to its relatively high vapour pressure it is very mobile and found in all environmental compartments.
Environmentally relevant characteristics of hexachlorobenzene include:
- Persistence
- Bioaccumulation potential
- Biomagnification potential
- Toxicity to aquatic organisms
- Suspected carcinogenicity
- Suspected teratogenicity und developmental toxicity
- Suspected endocrine disrupting activity
Pesticides containing hexachlorobenzene are banned in the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic since 1981 and 1984, respectively.
When the Stockholm Convention entered into force in 2004, application of hexachlorobenzene was restricted to the use as chemical intermediate and as solvent for pesticides.
Recommended analysis examples
Search data
Specimen
| Roe deer, one-year-old | The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe. |
|---|---|
| Feral pigeon | A pigeon species home in nearly every city. |
| Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) | As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter). |
| Zebra mussel | Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution |
| Bream | Bioindicator in rivers and lakes |
| Eelpout | As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems. |
| Herring gull | Inshore, the herring gull mainly feeds from the sea: upon fish, mussels, and crabs. |
| Suspended particulate matter | Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase |
| Students | Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29. |
Sampling area
| BR/NP Berchtesgaden | The only high mountains national park in Germany and an area of the Limestone Alps with international relevance. |
|---|---|
| Saarländischer Verdichtungsraum | Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany. |
| Bornhöveder Seengebiet | Main watershed between the North- and Baltic Sea. |
| Rhein | Longest river in Germany. |
| NP Bayerischer Wald | The Bavarian Forest National Park is Germany's first national park. |
| NP Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft | National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world. |
| BR/NP Wattenmeere | National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats. |
| Elbe | Fourth largest river area in Central Europe. |
| Dübener Heide | Region in the chemical triangle of Central Germany. |
| NP Harz | The Harz National Park is Germany's largest forest national park. |
| Solling | Second highest and largest low mountain range in Northern Germany. |
| BR Pfälzerwald | Germany's largest connected forest area in a range of low mountains. |
| Oberbayerisches Tertiärhügelland | The Upper Bavarian Tertiary Uplands are a part of the Southern German Molasse Basin. |
| Donau | Second largest river in Europe. |
| Sampling sites (humans) | 4 university cities as sampling areas. |
Sampling period
1985 - 2010