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. Chloroform boils at 63°C. <ref>[http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform http://www.wikipedia.org/ 19 August 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 (2000 tons by evaporation to the atmosphere and 2000tons in waste waters) are released into the environment, both from production sites and by 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 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>
  
Chloroform is a volatile substance causing it to evaporate easily into the atmosphere. There it is quite stable as it takes up to 100 days to half its concentration. It's even more stable in water bodies, where there is little abiotic degradation and also not much biodegradation. It has a moderate water solubility of 8 g/l. It doesn't have a 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 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 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]].
  
Some fish and zooplankton species species die at concentrations above 20 mg/l although most can tolerate concentrations up to 100 mg/l. Chronic exposure can lead to deaths at lower concentrations.  
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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.  
  
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.<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 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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Revision as of 11:30, 27 August 2009

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. Chloroform boils at 63°C. [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 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. [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.

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.

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 ED North Database


References