Difference between revisions of "Trichloromethane"

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{{Definition|title=trichloromethane
 
{{Definition|title=trichloromethane
  
|definition=Trichloromethane, better known as chloroform, is a member of the group of trihalomethanes. It is a colourless liquid with a sweet taste and odour. Breathing large amounts of its vapour will cause headaches, sleepiness and unconsciousness. Chloroform boils at 63°C. <ref>[http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform http://www.wikipedia.org/ 19 August 2009]</ref> }}
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|definition=Trichloromethane, better known as chloroform, is a member of the group of trihalomethanes. It is a colourless liquid with a sweet taste and odour. Breathing large amounts of its vapour will cause headaches, sleepiness and unconsciousness<ref>[http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform http://www.wikipedia.org/ August 19 2009]</ref>}}
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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Chloroform is used mainly as a raw material in the production of hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22, which will be phased out in the European Union by 2025.  Chloroform is used in other applications including in the pharmaceutical industry (for example in the extraction of penicillin and other antibiotics). It is also used as a degreasing agent and as a chemical intermediate in the production of dyes, pesticides and other substances. Chloroform is produced in the European Union at a yearly volume of 302.800 tons (in 2002). Of this an estimated 4000 tons  are released into the environment(2000 tons by evaporation to the atmosphere and 2000tons in waste waters), both from production sites and from use products derived from it. It has been suggested that chloroform might be released through natural processes, although this still remains to be proven. <ref name = echa>[http://echa.europa.eu/doc/trd_substances/chloroform/rar/trd_rar_env_france_chloroform.pdf EU RISK ASSESSMENT 2007 CHLOROFORM CAS 67-66-3]</ref>
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Chloroform is used mainly as a raw material in the production of hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22, which will be phased out in the European Union by 2025.  Chloroform is used in other applications including in the pharmaceutical industry (for example in the extraction of penicillin and other antibiotics). It is also used as a degreasing agent and as a chemical intermediate in the production of dyes, pesticides and other substances. Chloroform is produced in the European Union at a yearly volume of 302.800 tons (in 2002). Of this an estimated 4000 tons  are released into the environment (2000 tons by evaporation to the atmosphere and 2000 tons in waste waters), both from production sites and from use products derived from it. It has been suggested that chloroform might be released through natural processes, although this still remains to be proven<ref name = echa>[http://echa.europa.eu/doc/trd_substances/chloroform/rar/trd_rar_env_france_chloroform.pdf EU RISK ASSESSMENT 2007 CHLOROFORM CAS 67-66-3]</ref>.
  
Chloroform is a volatile substance causing it to evaporate rapidly into the atmosphere. There it is quite stable with a [[half-life]] of up to 100 days. It's even more stable in water bodies, where there is little [[abiotic]] degradation and also not much biodegradation. Chloroform has a moderate water solubility of 8 g/l and no high tendency towards [[adsorption]] to soils or sediments. <ref name = echa>[http://echa.europa.eu/doc/trd_substances/chloroform/rar/trd_rar_env_france_chloroform.pdf EU RISK ASSESSMENT 2007 CHLOROFORM CAS 67-66-3]</ref>
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Chloroform is a [[volatile]] substance causing it to evaporate rapidly into the atmosphere. There it is quite stable with a [[half-life]] of up to 100 days. It's even more stable in water bodies, where there is little [[abiotic]] degradation and also not much biodegradation. Chloroform has a moderate water solubility of 8 g/l and no high tendency towards [[adsorption]] to soils or sediments<ref name = echa>[http://echa.europa.eu/doc/trd_substances/chloroform/rar/trd_rar_env_france_chloroform.pdf EU RISK ASSESSMENT 2007 CHLOROFORM CAS 67-66-3]</ref>.
  
Chloroform has only a low potential to [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] in [[pollution and marine fishes|fishes]], although moderate bioaccumulation may occur in small aquatic species. It is not expected to significantly [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] through [[food chain|food chains]].
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Chloroform has only a low potential to [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] in [[pollution and pelagic fishes|fishes]], although moderate bioaccumulation may occur in small aquatic species. It is not expected to significantly [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] through [[food chain|food chains]].
  
Some fish and zooplankton species species die at chloroform concentrations above 20 mg/l although most can tolerate short exposure concentrations up to 100 mg/l. Chronic exposure can lead to deaths at lower concentrations.  
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Short exposure to chloroform concentrations of 20 mg/l can be lethal to some fish and zooplankton species, although most can tolerate short exposure to concentrations up to 100 mg/l. Lower concentrations can be [[toxic]] at continuous exposure.  
  
Chloroform concentrations measured in the open ocean range between 0,0016 µg/l and 1 µg/l. In the Scheldt [[estuary]] concentrations of 0,15 µg/l have been measured. Heavily polluted [[coastal areas|coastal]] waters may contain concentrations up to 70µg/l.<ref name = echa>[http://echa.europa.eu/doc/trd_substances/chloroform/rar/trd_rar_env_france_chloroform.pdf EU RISK ASSESSMENT 2007 CHLOROFORM CAS 67-66-3]</ref>
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Chloroform concentrations measured in the open ocean range between 0,0016 µg/l and 1 µg/l. In the Scheldt [[estuary]] concentrations of 0,15 µg/l have been measured. Heavily polluted [[coastal area|coastal]] waters may contain concentrations up to 70µg/l<ref name = echa>[http://echa.europa.eu/doc/trd_substances/chloroform/rar/trd_rar_env_france_chloroform.pdf EU RISK ASSESSMENT 2007 CHLOROFORM CAS 67-66-3]</ref>.
 
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== Environmental standards and legislation ==
 
== Environmental standards and legislation ==
  
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
[http://www.vliz.be/projects/endis/EDnorth.php?showchemprop=true&showeffects=true&chemeffects=true&chemid=167 Chloroform on ED North Database]
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[http://www.vliz.be/projects/endis/EDnorth.php?showchemprop=true&showeffects=true&chemeffects=true&chemid=167 Chloroform on the ED North Database]
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[http://www.vliz.be/vmdcdata/ecotox/ecotox.php?action=DispChem&ChemID=167 Chloroform on the Ecotox Database]  
 
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==References==
 
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{{author
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[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]
 
[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]

Revision as of 16:34, 19 March 2013

Definition of trichloromethane:
Trichloromethane, better known as chloroform, is a member of the group of trihalomethanes. It is a colourless liquid with a sweet taste and odour. Breathing large amounts of its vapour will cause headaches, sleepiness and unconsciousness[1].
This is the common definition for trichloromethane, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

Trichloromethane
Chloroform
Formula
CHC3

Chloroform is used mainly as a raw material in the production of hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22, which will be phased out in the European Union by 2025. Chloroform is used in other applications including in the pharmaceutical industry (for example in the extraction of penicillin and other antibiotics). It is also used as a degreasing agent and as a chemical intermediate in the production of dyes, pesticides and other substances. Chloroform is produced in the European Union at a yearly volume of 302.800 tons (in 2002). Of this an estimated 4000 tons are released into the environment (2000 tons by evaporation to the atmosphere and 2000 tons in waste waters), both from production sites and from use products derived from it. It has been suggested that chloroform might be released through natural processes, although this still remains to be proven[2].

Chloroform is a volatile substance causing it to evaporate rapidly into the atmosphere. There it is quite stable with a half-life of up to 100 days. It's even more stable in water bodies, where there is little abiotic degradation and also not much biodegradation. Chloroform has a moderate water solubility of 8 g/l and no high tendency towards adsorption to soils or sediments[2].

Chloroform has only a low potential to bioaccumulate in fishes, although moderate bioaccumulation may occur in small aquatic species. It is not expected to significantly biomagnify through food chains.

Short exposure to chloroform concentrations of 20 mg/l can be lethal to some fish and zooplankton species, although most can tolerate short exposure to concentrations up to 100 mg/l. Lower concentrations can be toxic at continuous exposure.

Chloroform concentrations measured in the open ocean range between 0,0016 µg/l and 1 µg/l. In the Scheldt estuary concentrations of 0,15 µg/l have been measured. Heavily polluted coastal waters may contain concentrations up to 70µg/l[2].


Environmental standards and legislation

Included in the water framework list of priority substances


See also

Chloroform on the ED North Database

Chloroform on the Ecotox Database


References

The main author of this article is Daphnis De Pooter
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Daphnis De Pooter (2013): Trichloromethane. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Trichloromethane [accessed on 28-03-2024]