C6H6Cl6

C6H6Cl6 is the chemical formula for hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), an organochlorine compound consisting of a cyclohexane ring with six chlorine substituents. Several stereoisomers exist, designated alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-HCH; the gamma isomer is commonly known as lindane.

Lindane has historically been used as an insecticide in agriculture, seed treatments, wood preservation, and public health programs for vector control. Technical-grade HCH refers to a mixture of isomers rather than a single pure compound. Due to its persistence and environmental mobility, lindane has become a subject of regulatory scrutiny and environmental concern.

Physicochemical properties of hexachlorocyclohexane include lipophilicity and low water solubility, with a high tendency to accumulate in soils, sediments, and biota. It exhibits substantial environmental persistence and can bioaccumulate in food chains, raising concerns about long-term ecological and human health effects. Its toxicity is primarily associated with the nervous system in exposed organisms, and long-term exposure has prompted risk assessments and regulatory action in many jurisdictions.

Regulatory status varies by country, but lindane is subject to substantial restrictions or bans in many regions. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants lists lindane for elimination or restriction with certain exemptions. Ongoing monitoring and remediation efforts focus on contaminated sites and reducing continued use to limit environmental and health impacts.