United States               Pollution Prevention          January 1995
Environmental               and  Toxics                   EPA 749-F-95-007    
Protection   
Agency (7407)


		    OPPT Chemical Fact Sheets


                 Chlorobenzene (CAS No. 108-90-7)




Chemicals can be released to the environment as a result
of their manufacture, processing, and use.  EPA has developed
information summaries on selected chemicals to describe how you might
be exposed to these chemicals, how exposure to them might affect you
and the environment, what happens to them in the environment, who
regulates them, and whom to contact for additional information.  EPA
is committed to reducing environmental releases of chemicals through
source reduction and other practices that reduce creation of
pollutants.




WHAT IS CHLOROBENZENE, HOW IS IT USED, AND HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED?

   Chlorobenzene (also called monochlorobenzene or MCB) is a flammable
liquid.  It does not occur naturally.  It is produced in large amounts
(231 million pounds in 1992) in the United States by three companies. 
U.S. demand is likely to remain constant over the next several years. 
Because of environmental concerns for chlorinated organic chemicals in
general, future U.S. demand for MCB is likely to decline.  The largest
users of MCB are companies that make nitrochlorobenzene.  Companies also
use MCB to make adhesives, paints, paint removers, polishes, dyes, and
drugs.  In the past companies have used MCB to make phenol and related
chemicals, pesticides (like DDT), and aniline.

   Exposure to chlorobenzene can occur in the workplace or in the
environment following releases to air, water, land, or groundwater. 
Exposure can also occur when people use paints and paint removers that
contain MCB.  Chlorobenzene enters the body when people breathe air
contaminated with MCB or consume food or water contaminated with MCB.  It
can also be absorbed through skin contact.  MCB does not remain in the
body due to its breakdown and removal.

WHAT HAPPENS TO CHLOROBENZENE IN THE ENVIRONMENT?

   Chlorobenzene can evaporate when exposed to air.  It dissolves
slightly when mixed with water.  Most releases of chlorobenzene to the
U.S. environment are to air.  MCB also can evaporate from water and soil
exposed to air.  Once in air, MCB breaks down to other chemicals. 
Because it is a liquid that does not bind well to soil, MCB that makes
its way into the ground can move through the ground and enter
groundwater.  Plants and animals are not likely to store chlorobenzene.

HOW DOES CHLOROBENZENE AFFECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT?

   Effects of chlorobenzene on human health and the environment depend
on how much chlorobenzene is present and the length and frequency of
exposure.  Effects also depend on the health of a person or the condition
of the environment when exposure occurs.

   Contact with chlorobenzene liquid or vapor can irritate the skin,
the eyes, the nose, and the throat.  Exposure to large amounts of
chlorobenzene can also cause adverse nervous system effects, including
unconsciousness.  These effects disappear when exposure stops.  These
acute effects are not likely to occur at levels of chlorobenzene that are
normally found in the U.S. environment.

   Workers breathing large amounts of MCB can experience headaches,
muscle spasms, and adverse effects on the bone marrow.  Other human
health effects associated with repeat exposure to small amounts of
chlorobenzene over long periods of time are not known.    Laboratory
studies show that repeat exposure to chlorobenzene in air affects the
nervous system of animals.   Repeat exposure to large amounts of MCB can
also adversely affect the liver, kidneys, and the blood of animals.  The
chlorinated benzene industry has submitted to EPA results of EPA
requested reproductive effects testing on MCB.  Results show that
exposure to moderate amounts of chlorobenzene in air causes testicular
damage in animals.  

   Chlorobenzene is moderately toxic to aquatic organisms. 
Chlorobenzene is not likely to cause environmental harm at levels
normally found in the U.S. environment.                                   
                                      

WHAT EPA OFFICES OR OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES OR OTHER GROUPS CAN I CONTACT
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CHLOROBENZENE?

EPA OFFICE             STATUTE                         PHONE NUMBER

Pollution Prevention   Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)  (202) 260-1023
  & Toxics               Emergency Planning and 
                         Community Right-to-Know 
                         Act (EPCRA) (313/TRI)        (800) 424-9346
                       Toxic Substances Control Act 
                         (TSCA) (4, 8A, 8D)         (202) 554-1404
Air                         Clean Air Act              (919) 541-0888
Solid Waste &          Resource Conservation and 
Emergency Response       Recovery Act (RCRA)           (800) 424-9346
                       Comprehensive Environmental 
                         Response, Compensation, and 
                         Liability Act (CERCLA)        (800) 424-9346
Water                  Safe Drinking Water Act         (800) 426-4791
                       Clean Water Act                 (202) 260-7588
               
        
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY/DEPARTMENT OR GROUP               PHONE NUMBER

Agency of Toxic Substances & Disease Registry          (404) 639-6000
American Conference of Governmental Industrial         (513) 742-2020
 Hygenists
Consumer Product Safety Commission                     (301) 504-0994
Food & Drug Administration                             (301) 443-3170  
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health    (800) 356-4674
Occupational Safety & Health Administration     
    (Check local phone book for phone number under Department of Labor)
The Support Document for this and other OPPT Chemical Fact Sheets can be
   found on the Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/chemfact/