Hexachlorobenzene

HCB, perchlorobenzene; formula: C6Cl6; CAS Registry Number: 118-74-1
Structure of hexachlorobenzene
Source: PubChem
Identifier: CID 8370
URL: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8370#section=2D-Structure

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:

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.

Specimen

Sampling area

Sampling period

1985 - 2023