Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are complex mixtures of certain organic compounds containingchloride: polychlorinated n-alkanes (see example structure to the right). The chlorination degree of CPs can vary between 30 and 70 wt%. CPs are subdivided according to their carbon chain length into short chain CPs (SCCPs, C_10–13), medium chain CPs (MCCPs, C_14–17) and long chain CPs (LCCPs, C_>17). Depending on chain length and chlorine content, CPs are colorless or yellowish liquids or solids.

CPs were introduced in the 1930s. Currently, over 200 CP formulations are in use for a wide range of industrial applications, such as flame retardantsand plasticisers, as additives in metal working fluids, in sealants, paints and coatings and as a solvent for Dichloramine T (germicide).

SCCPs are classified as persistent and their physical properties (octanol-water partition coefficient logK_OW 4.4–8, depending on the chlorination degree) imply a high potential for bioaccumulation. Furthermore, CPs are classified as toxic to aquatic organisms, and carcinogenic to rats and mice. SCCPs were categorised ingroup 2B as possibly carcinogenic to humans from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). A global ban on SCCPs is being considered under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

氯化石蠟（CPS）是含有氯的某些復雜的有機化合物的混合物：氯化烷烴（見例結構的權利）。CPS的氯化程度的30和70重量%之間變化。CPS是按照它們的碳鏈長度為短鏈CPS細分（短鏈氯化石蠟，C10–13），中鏈CPS（mccps，C14–17）和長鏈的CPS（LCCP，C＞17）。根據鏈長度和氯含量，CPS是無色或淡黃色液體或固體。

CPS在20世紀30年代。目前，超過200的CP制劑用于廣泛的工業應用，如阻燃劑和增塑劑，在金屬加工液中添加劑，密封劑，涂料和溶劑為二氯胺T（殺菌劑）。

短鏈氯化石蠟分為持續性和物理性質（正辛醇-水分配系數logKow 4.4–8，根據氯化度）意味著積累高電位。此外，CPS為對水生生物的毒性和致癌性，小鼠和大鼠。短鏈氯化石蠟的分類在2B組為來自國際癌癥研究署的人類可能致癌物（IARC）。對短鏈氯化石蠟的全球禁令被斯德哥爾摩公約關于持久性有機污染物的考慮。