Dichloropropenes

CAS ID #: 26952-23-8, 542-75-6

Affected Organ Systems: Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)

Cancer Classification: EPA: 1,3-dichloropropene: Probable human carcinogen. IARC: 1,3-dichloropropene: possibly carcinogenic to humans. NTP: 1,3-dichloropropene: Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen

Please contact NTP, IARC, or EPA’s IRIS Hotline with questions on cancer and cancer classification.

Chemical Classification: Volatile organic compounds

Summary:

Dichloropropenes are synthetic chemicals made of a chain of three carbon atoms with a double bond connecting the first two carbons. Two chlorine atoms are attached at varying positions on this carbon chain generating five different types or isomers of dichloropropene molecules. The names of the isomers are 1,1-dichloropropene 1,2-dichloropropene 1,3-dichloropropene 2,3-dichloropropene and 3,3-dichloropropene.

1,3-Dichloropropene is a colorless liquid with a sweet smell. It dissolves in water and evaporates easily. It is used mainly in farming as a pesticide. Much less is known about the other dichloropropenes. 2,3-Dichloropropene is used in industry to make other chemicals. No uses were found for 1,1-, 1,2-, or 3,3-dichloropropene.

Because1,3-dichloropropene is produced and used in much higher amounts than the other isomers and because it is released to the environment as a pesticide, most of the data available are for 1,3-dichloropropene. Therefore, the focus of this summary is the 1,3-dichloropropene isomer.