Polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs)

[Chlorinated paraffins (CPs)]

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are a class of polychlorinated n-alkanes (PCAs) that are used as plasticizers, flame retardants, high-pressure lubricants, and for a numbre of other industrial applications. Clorinated paraffins have carbon chain lengths between 10 and 30, with chlorine content varying from 35 to 70% by weight. Each commercial CP product has thousands of different compounds and isomers. The global production of CPs has been estimated at over 300 kilotonnes/year, with a majority having medium carbon chain lengths (C14-18). (ref. ID; 7028)

Chemical characteristics

Very hydrophobic (log octanol-water partition coefficient [Kow] >5.0. (ref. ID; 7028)
Four [14]C-polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs):

C12H20Cl6 [56% Cl by weight] Log Kow 6.2C12H16Cl10 [69% Cl] Log Kow 6.6.
C16H31Cl3 [35% Cl] Log Kow 7.2.
C16H21C13 [69% Cl] Log Kow 7.4.

Test organisms

Oligochaeta: Lumbriculus variegatus (ref. ID; 7028)