Trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11)
CAS No. 75-69-4

 
 

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ACTIVITY: Propellant, Fumigant, Insecticide, US EPA List 2 Inert (Halogenated organic)

Structure:

Adverse Effects:

Bone
Brain
CNS
Endocrine: Breast
Heart
Leukemia
Lung

Environmental Effects:

Class 1 Ozone Depleting Substance. Lifetime of Global Warming Potential: 45 years

Very resistant to chemical and biological degradation and likely to be a persistent contaminant if it reaches groundwater.

Bioconcentration in organisms is low to moderate.

Accidental Death:

A 4-yr-old boy, playing with an antiperspirant deodorant in the bathtub, inhaled the propellants, 50.5% trichloromonofluoromethane (fluorocarbon 11) and 43% dichlorodifluoromethane (fluorocarbon 12), became deeply unconscious with no spontaneous respiration, and no cerebral activity, and died 5 days later.
Ref:
Accidental death of child playing with deodorant aerosol ; Lancet; VOL 1 ISS Apr 8 1978; Letter by IG Jefferson.

Regulatory Information
(only comprehensive for the US)
US EPA Registered: Yes
List 2 Inert 
US EPA PC Code: 000013  
California Chemical Code 1460 (Freon 11. Two chem codes for the same compound.)
3482 (Trichlorofluoromethane. Two chem codes for the same compound.)
Registered use in
(includes only a limited list of countries)

"Severely restricted"
Austria, Finland, Sweden 
Banned in these countries:  Thailand, Switzerland
Other Information
Molecular Formula: C-Cl3-F 
Other Names:
Name of Substance
Trichlorofluoromethane
Trichloromonofluoromethane
Synonyms
4-01-00-00054 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
Algofrene type 1
Arcton 11
Arcton 9
BRN 1732469
CCRIS 604
CFC 11
Caswell No. 878
Chladone 11
Daiflon 11
Daiflon S 1
Dymel 11
EINECS 200-892-3
Electro-CF 11
Eskimon 11
F 11
F 11 (halocarbon)
F 11B
F-11
FC 11
FC 11 (halocarbon)
FKW 11
Fluon 11
Fluorocarbon 11
Fluorocarbon No. 11
Fluorochloroform
Fluorotrichloromethane
Fluorotrojchlorometan [Polish]
Freon 11
Freon 11A
Freon 11B
Freon HE
Freon MF
Frigen 11
Frigen 11A
Frigen S 11
Genetron 11
Genetron 11SBA
HSDB 138
Halocarbon 11
Halon 11
Isceon 131
Isotron 11
Kaltron 11
Khladon 11
Ledon 11
Methane, fluorotrichloro-
Monofluorotrichloromethane
NCI-C04637
Propellant 11
R 11
R 11 (refrigerant)
Refrigerant 11
Refrigerant R 11
Trichlorofluorocarbon
Trichloromethyl fluoride
Trichloromonofluoromethane
Ucon flurocarbon 11
Ucon refrigerant 11
Systematic Names
Methane, trichlorofluoro-
Trichlorofluoromethane
Of special interest:
PAN Bad Actor - Carcinogen
TOXNET profile from Hazardous Substances Data Bank 
May 1998 - IRIS - Integrated Risk Information System - US EPA 
PubMed Abstracts 
2000 US Toxic Release Inventory - Brief summary 
Insecticide Products - partial list 

US EPA List of Inerts. This substance is on List 2.

Note: US EPA allows so-called "Inert" ingredients to be commonly mixed with the "active" pesticidal ingredient to create a formulated pesticide product. According to EPA, "The term `inert' is not intended to imply nontoxicity; the ingredient may or may not be chemically active." "Inert" ingredients include solvents, emulsifiers, spreaders, and other substances mixed into pesticide products to increase the effectiveness of the active ingredients, make the product easier to apply, or to allow several active ingredients to mix in one solution. Both US EPA and California Department of Pesticide Regulation require pesticide manufacturers to identify inert ingredients in their products but do not disclose this information to the general public because the pesticide industry considers product formulations trade secrets, protected by law and by the US EPA. The US EPA category of Inerts (as of September 2003):

List 1 - Of Toxicological Concern
List 2 - Potentially Toxic / High Priority for Testing
List 3 - Of Unknown Toxicity
List 4A - Generally Regarded as Safe
List 4B - EPA states it has Sufficient Information to Reasonably Conclude that the Current Use Pattern in Pesticide Products will not Adversely Affect Public Health or the Environment
List 4 (all)

See good report: Toxic Secrets": "Inert" Ingredients in Pesticides 1987-1997, published by Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides.


USES: This compound is used as a solvent, chemical intermediate, blowing agent for polyurethane foams and polymeric foams, dry cleaning agent, aerosol propellant and in fire extinguishers. It is also used in the manufacturing of aerosol sprays, commercial refrigeration equipment and cleaning compounds.

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition this compound may emit toxic fumes of F- and Cl-. It may also emit toxic fumes of phosgene, HCl, HF acids and possibly carbonyl halides.

Ref: National Toxicology Program, Chemical Health & Safety Information


Body Burden: 7 of 8 samples of mother's milk from 4 urban sites in US positive for trichlorfluoromethane(1). It was detected in 4 of 8 samples of respired air at a range of 0.007 to 0.041 ug/hr, positive subjects having been previously occupationally exposed (laboratory technicians)(2). [(1) Pellizzari ED et al; Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 28: 322-8 (1982) (2) Conkle JP; Arch Environ Health 30: 290-5 (1975)]

... TWO CASES OF PHOSGENE POISONING FROM DISINTEGRATION OF FC 11 PROPELLANT AT AN OPEN FLAME IN AN ENCLOSURE /REPORTED/. [Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982. 3075]

A SPECIAL CLASS OF CHEMICALS SUBJECT TO ABUSE BY INHALATION ARE THE FLUOROHYDROCARBONS, SUCH AS ... TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE ... THE "SNIFFING" OF SUCH AEROSOL SPRAYS IS HAZARDOUS PRACTICE. ... 110 "SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATHS" /HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED/ ... IN EACH CASE THE VICTIM SPRAYED THE AEROSOL INTO A PLASTIC BAG, INHALED THE CONTENTS, BECAME EXCITED, RAN 90 M OR SO, COLLAPSED, & DIED. NECROPSY FINDINGS WERE LARGELY NEGATIVE. [Goodman, L.S., and A. Gilman. (eds.) The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 5th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1975. 910]

Fluorocarbon vapors are 4 to 5 times heavier than air. Thus high concn tend to accumulate in low-lying areas, resulting in hazard of inhalation of concentrated vapors, which may be fatal. /Fluorocarbons/ [Clayton, G.D., F.E. Clayton (eds.) Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. Volumes 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F: Toxicology. 4th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1993-1994. 1195]
Ref: Hazardous Substances Data Base for TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Trichlorofluorometha.TOXNET.htm



US Federal Register
Date Published Docket Identification Number Details
August 3, 2005 OPP-2005-0068

Inert ingredients; Revocation of Pesticide Tolerance Exemptions for Three CFC Chemicals. FINAL RULE.
EPA is revoking exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for three inert ingredients (dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and trichlorofluoromethane) because these substances no longer have active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) pesticide product registrations and/or because their use in pesticide products sold in the United States (U.S.) has been prohibited under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for over a decade due to EPA's ban on the sale or distribution, or offer for sale or distribution in interstate commerce of certain nonessential products that contain or are manufactured with ozone depleting compounds...
Nonetheless, EPA will establish and maintain tolerances and tolerance exemptions even when corresponding domestic uses are canceled if the tolerances, which EPA refers to as ``import tolerances,'' are necessary to allow
importation into the United States of food containing such pesticide residues.
However, where there are no imported commodities that require these import tolerances, the Agency believes it is appropriate to revoke tolerances and tolerance exemptions for unregistered pesticide chemicals in order to prevent potential misuse.

40 CFR chapter I is amended as follows:
PART 180--[AMENDED]
• 1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
• 2. Section 180.910 is amended by removing the following exemptions and
any associated Limits and Uses from the table: Dichlorodifluoromethane,
Dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and Trichlorofluoromethane.
• 3. Section 180.930 is amended by removing the following exemptions and
any associated Limits and Uses from the table: Dichlorodifluoromethane
and Trichlorofluoromethane.

April 27, 2005 OPP-2005-0068

Inert Ingredients; Proposal to Revoke Pesticide Tolerance.
EPA is proposing to revoke exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for three inert ingredients (dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and trichlorofluoromethane) because these
substances are no longer in active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) pesticide product registrations and/or their use in pesticide products sold in the U.S. has been prohibited under the Clean Air Act for over a decade by EPA's ban on the sale or distribution, or offer for sale or distribution in interstate commerce
of certain nonessential products that contain or are manufactured with ozone depleting compounds.
These ingredients are subject to reassessment by August, 2006 under section 408(q) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA).

Therefore, it is proposed that 40 CFR part 180 be amended as follows:
PART 180--AMENDED
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.
Sec. 180.910 [Amended]
2. Section 180.910 is amended by removing the following exemptions
and any associated Limits and Uses from the table:
Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and
Trichlorofluoromethane.
Sec. 180.930 [Amended]
3. Section 180.930 is amended by removing the following exemptions
and any associated Limits and Uses from the table:
Dichlorodifluoromethane and Trichlorofluoromethane.

April 28, 2004 OPP-2003-0368 Pesticides; Tolerance Exemptions for Active and Inert Ingredients for Use in Antimicrobial Formulations (Food-Contact Surface Sanitizing Solutions). FINAL RULE.
-- Trichlorofluoromethane: A propellant used in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest; and in pesticide formulations applied to animals.
June 24, 1998 OPP- 36192 US EPA List 2 Inert; Ingredient in Pesticide Products.
 
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