156 
Table 54: Physico-chemical properties of dicofol. 
Parameter 
CAS number 
115-32-2 
Log Kow 
5.0 a , 3.54 b 
Solubility in water [mg/L] 
1.2 (24°C) C 
Biodegradation 
> months 3 
Vapour pressure [Pa] 
1.6xl0" 6 3 
Half-life in water 
pH 7: 4 d, pH 9: 0.02 d 
Half-life in soil 
pH 7: 30-35 d 
Atmospheric half-life [d] 
3.1 d 3 
Data from: “(Lerche et ah, 2002), b (www.inchem.org). c (OSPAR Background Document on dicofol) 
The high log K ow value of 3.5 - 5.0 (see Table 54) indicates an affinity of dicofol to 
accumulate in sediments and biological tissues. The acute oral toxicity of dicofol is 
690 mg/kg body weight rat (LD^o-value) (Römpp, 1995). It has been classified by the 
World Health Organisation as a Class III “slightly hazardous” pesticide (pan-uk, 1999). 
Within the framework of this study, dicofol and its degradation product 4,4’- 
dichlorobenzophenone (Figure 25) were screened for teratogenic effects by Kamman 
(Kammann, 2004) (see Chapter 6.4.6.2): effects were found for dicofol at 
concentrations of 2-10 mg/L; no effects were observed for dichlorobenzophenone. 
Table 55 gives an overview of acute dicofol toxicity to organisms in the marine 
environment. No data are available on chronic toxicity following exposure to low 
concentrations for several years, particularly with respect to marine aquatic organisms. 
Table 55: Survey of acute / chronic toxicity of dicofol to aquatic organisms. 
Aquatic organism 
Value/period [d] 
Cone. [pg/L] 
Algae 
LC50/acute 
73.0 
Crustacean 
LC50/acute 
80.0 
Mollusc 
LC50/acute 
15.0 
Fish 
LC50/300 
4.5 
Data from: (OSPAR Background document on dicofol)