Toxic substances list: Mirex
Dodecachloropentacyclo [5.3.0.02,6.03,9.04,8] decane, also known as Mirex, is not known to occur in the environment as a natural product. Although the generation of Mirex by natural processes cannot be excluded, such a contribution to the levels existing in the environment is considered negligible.
Although Mirex was never registered for use as a pesticide in Canada, it has been used worldwide against fire ants, termites and other insect pests. Mirex has also been used as a fire retardant agent in plastics, rubber, paint, paper and electrical goods. The main sources of Mirex in Canada are located in New York State in the Niagara River and the Oswego River where chemical manufacturing and fire retardant production plants were located. It has entered Canada through long-range atmospheric transport and via water and sediments in the Niagara River where it was manufactured until 1976, and via loadings from the Oswego River where it was used as a flame retardant.
Mirex appears on the List of Toxic Substances (Schedule 1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), and regulated under the Mirex Regulations, 1989.
The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations put into one set of regulations all of the toxic substances for which it was determined that their use in Canada should be banned for reasons of environmental or health protection.
During the Regulatory Review process of the Department of the Environment, it was suggested that it would be simpler and more effective administratively to develop a generic banned-substances regulation to which substances would be scheduled rather than having separate regulations, as was the case for Mirex.
CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) registry number: 2385-85-5
Risk assessment
- Notice concerning the confirmation of "Track 1 substance" status for Mirex as determined by assessment of these substances against the Track 1 criteria of the Toxic Substances Management Policy
- CEPA 1999 Schedule 1 - List of Toxic Substances - This substance has been added to the List of Toxic Substances.
- Virtual elimination of the substance (Track 1) under the Toxic Substances Management Policy
Sources
This substance is entering the environment from the following sources:
Risk management tools
Tools developed to manage risks associated with the substance:
International engagement
For information on Canada's international engagement on this substance, please visit:
Consultation
Consultation (past and present) on the substance:
Other information
Contact
Chemicals Management Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
E-mail: interdiction-prohibition@ec.gc.ca
Substances Management Information Line:
Telephone: 1-800-567-1999 (in Canada) or 819-938-3232
Fax: 819-938-3231