Hexachlorophene

Hexachlorophene
Hexachlorophene
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2,2'-methylenebis(3,4,6-trichlorophenol)
Clinical data
Trade names Phisohex
AHFS/Drugs.com monograph
Pregnancy cat.  ?
Legal status  ?
Identifiers
CAS number 70-30-4 YesY
ATC code D08AE01 QP52AG02
PubChem CID 3598
DrugBank APRD00722
ChemSpider 3472 YesY
UNII IWW5FV6NK2 YesY
KEGG D00859 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL496 YesY
Chemical data
Formula C13H6Cl6O2 
Mol. mass 406.902 g/mol
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
Physical data
Melt. point 164 °C (327 °F)
 N(what is this?)  (verify)

Hexachlorophene, also known as Nabac, is a disinfectant. The compound occurs as a white to light-tan crystalline powder, which either is odorless or produces a slightly phenolic odor. In medicine, hexachlorophene is very useful as a topical anti-infective, anti-bacterial agent, often used in soaps and toothpaste. It is also used in agriculture as a soil fungicide, plant bactericide, and acaricide.

Hexachlorophene products can be lethal from percutaneous (through the skin) absorption. Children may be specifically susceptible. Hexachlorophene (6.3%) was added to “baby powder” in France due to a manufacturing error. It, or possibly contaminating dioxins, caused encephalopathy and ulcerative skin lesions. 36 of 204 exposed children died within a few days of exposure.[1]

Two companies manufactured over-the-counter preparations. One, by The Mennen Company, Morristown, NJ, was known as Baby Magic Bath. However, Mennen recalled the product, and all bottles were taken off retail shelves. Right after the withdrawal, there was an outbreak of Staphylococcus infections in hospitals across the USA.[citation needed]

A commercial preparation of the drug, pHisoHex, was widely used as a very effective antibacterial skin cleanser in the treatment of acne. In the U.S. during the 1960s, it was available over the counter, and remains available as a prescription body wash. In the E.U. during the 1970s and 1980s, it was available over the counter. A related product, pHisoAc, was used as a skin mask to dry and peel away acne lesions. Another preparation, pHiso-Scrub, was a hexachlorophene-impregnated sponge for scrubbing; it has since been discontinued.

In 1969, hexachlorophene became suspected of causing cancer, and studies determined that oral ingestion of hexachlorophene led to weakness and paralysis in laboratory rats. In 1973, after studies found relatively high concentrations of hexachlorophene in the blood of neonates washed with a 3% solution it was withdrawn from over-the-counter sales, though still available by prescription [2]. A 1978 study undertaken by the U.S. National Institutes of Health[3], indicated that hexachlorophene does not cause cancer. However, the MSDS still lists this compound as an experimental teratogen. Possibly because of the previous questions concerning its effects, most dermatologists today do not prescribe it for acne treatment.

Several substitute products (including triclosan) were developed, but none had the germ-killing capability of hexachlorophene.

Alternative names

Alternative names for hexachlorophene include: Acigena, Almederm, AT7, AT17, Bilevon, Exofene, Fostril, Gamophen, G-11, Germa-Medica, Hexosan, Septisol, Surofene.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Proceedings of the International Conference on Occupational & Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals: Science & Policy". CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/conference/s1t2.html. Retrieved November 17, 2009. 
  2. ^ "Evaluation of Drug Safety and Efficacy. Hexachlorophene: Case in Point: The Saga of Hexachlorophene". NIH. http://jcp.sagepub.com/content/13/11/437.full.pdf+html. Retrieved September 21, 2010. 
  3. ^ "BIOASSAY OF HEXACHLOROPHENE FOR POSSIBLE CARCINOGENICITY". NIH. http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/LT_rpts/tr040.pdf. Retrieved August 30, 2010. 
  4. ^ "Hexachlorophene". INCHEM — IPCS (International Program on Chemical Safety). October 2004. http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0161.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-27. 

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • hexachlorophene — [hek′səklôr′ə fēn΄] n. [< HEXA + CHLORO + PHENOL] a white, odorless powder, (C6HCl3OH) 2CH2, used in medicine to destroy, or prevent the growth of, bacteria …   English World dictionary

  • hexachlorophene liquid soap — [USP] a solution of hexachlorophene in a 10 to 13 per cent solution of a potassium soap, used as a topical antiinfective and detergent …   Medical dictionary

  • hexachlorophene — noun Etymology: hexa + chlor + phenol Date: 1948 a powdered phenolic bacteria inhibiting agent C13H6Cl6O2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hexachlorophene — /hek seuh klawr euh feen , klohr /, n. a white, crystalline powder, C13Cl6H6O2, insoluble in water: used as an antibacterial agent chiefly in toothpastes and soaps. [1945 50; HEXA + CHLORO 2 + PHENE] * * * …   Universalium

  • hexachlorophene — noun A disinfectant polyhalogenated compound that occurs as a white to light tan crystalline powder …   Wiktionary

  • hexachlorophene — An antibacterial; formerly widely used in soaps and detergents to inhibit bacterial growth; excessive use causes neurologic lesions; currently limited use. SYN: hexachlorophane. * * * hexa·chlo·ro·phene klōr ə .fēn, klȯr n a powdered phenolic… …   Medical dictionary

  • hexachlorophene — n. chemical substance used in the production of toothpastes and soaps …   English contemporary dictionary

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