chemical information
CAS RN:
319-85-7
Chemical Class:
Found in these people:
Lexi Rome, Andrea Martin, Davis Baltz, Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton, Charlotte Brody, Baby #3, Baby #7, Baby #9, Baby #6, Baby #5, Baby #10, Baby #2, Baby #1, Monique Harden, Lucy Waletsky, Baby #4, Baby #8, Kathy Fowler, Anonymous Adult 1, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Sara Corbett
Found in these locations:
Mill Valley, CA; Sausalito, CA; Berkeley, CA; Bolinas, CA; Round Hill, VA; New Orleans, LA; Pleasantville, NY; Rockville, MD; Upstate New York, NY; NY, USA
Summary
In laboratory animals, beta-BHC causes decreased body weight; liver toxicity (increased liver weight, increased triglycerides, increased phospholipids, increased cholesterol; decreased liver vitamin A, altered enzyme levels, cellular effects, increased mitosis); kidney/renal toxicity (increased kidney weight, cellular effects); hematological effects (decreased red blood cells, white blood cells and hemoglobin); neurotoxicity (loss of muscle coordination, decreased nerve conduction and coma); immunological effects (decreased lympho-proliferative response to T-cell mitogens, decreased natural killer cytolytic activity, cortical atrophy of thymus) and increased ovarian weight. Developmental effects include pup mortality (ATSDR 1994c).
beta-BHC
Organochlorine chemical, a class largely banned in the U.S. that builds up in the body over time, linked to cancer and reproductive harm.
beta-BHC has been found in 26 of the 27 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.
Top health concerns for beta-BHC (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Reproduction and fertility | unknown |
Results for beta-BHC
in blood serum (lipid weight)
Showing results from EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults, EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood, San Francisco Reporter, EWG Study #8, chemicals in mother and 2 children, EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
EWG/Commonweal results
- geometric mean: 0.607 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- found in 26 of 27 people in the group
| ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 37.1 | |
   | ||
beta-BHC results
Detailed toxicity classifications (References)
| classification | governing entity/references |
| Reproductive effects - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed | Damgaard, I. N., N. E. Skakkebaek, et al. (2006). Persistent pesticides in human breast milk and cryptorchidism. Environ Health Perspect 114(7): 1133-8. |
