Question: What is hexachloroethane and what are the common uses for this chemical?
Answer: Hexachloroethane (HCE; CASRN 67-72-1) is a halogenated hydrocarbon consisting of six chlorines attached to an ethane backbone. In the past, HCE was used as an antihelminthic for the treatment of sheep flukes, but is no longer used for this purpose since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew approval for this use in 1971. HCE is primarily used by the military for smoke pots, smoke grenades, and pyrotechnic devices. HCE has also been used as a polymer additive, a moth repellant, a plasticizer for cellulose esters, and an insecticide solvent, and in metallurgy for refining aluminum alloys. HCE was also identified in the headspace of chlorine-bleach-containing household products. (https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris/iris_documents/documents/toxreviews/0167tr.pdf; accessed August 2017)