Formic acid |

Last updated: 09/01/2023
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(Also known as: aminic acid; formylic acid; hydrogen carboxylic acid; hydroxymethanone; methanoic acid) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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Naturally occurring substance, found in the stings and bites of some insects, that is used to treat tracheal and varroa mites in honey bee hives. It is also a pesticide transformation product |
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Mite control |
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Bee hives |
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- |
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- |
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Current |
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1671, isolated |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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Yes |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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- |
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CH₂O₂ |
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C(=O)O |
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No data |
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BDAGIHXWWSANSR-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
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InChI=1S/CH2O2/c2-1-3/h1H,(H,2,3) |
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Yes |
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Insecticide |
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Soil, Surface water |
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Inorganic substance |
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- |
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- |
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Natural |
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- |
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Naturally occurring substance, found in the stings and bites of some insects |
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Mainly produced commercially as a byproduct in the manufacture of other chemicals |
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Bee protection |
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Mites |
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Bee hives |
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- |
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64-18-6 |
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200-579-1 |
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- |
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214900 |
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- |
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46.03 |
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- |
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methanoic acid |
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formic acid |
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Food and Feed additive as a acidity regulator (FLAVIS no. 08.001) |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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UNM |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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Colourless to pale yellow, fuming liquid with pungent odour |
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- |
- |
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For bee hive applications it is formulated as an impregnated pad. |
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1000000 |
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High |
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- |
- |
- |
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8.4 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
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100.8 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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50 |
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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2.88 X 10-01 |
Calculated |
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-0.54 |
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Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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1.22 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
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3.744 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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Weak acid |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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1.4 |
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Non-persistent |
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1.4 |
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Non-persistent |
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- |
- |
- |
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4.5 |
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Non-persistent |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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20.4 |
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Fast |
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17.3 |
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Slow |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
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- |
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Very mobile |
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12 |
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Estimated |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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1100 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data Rat |
Moderate |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
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- |
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175 |
Lepomis macrochirus |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 68 |
Daphnia magna |
Moderate |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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26.9 |
Scenedemus subspicatus |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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Low (class I) |
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- |
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1100 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data Rat |
Moderate |
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- |
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- |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
No data found |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
?Possibly, status not identified |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
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May be fatal if ingested May cause serious burns and corrosion of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is swallowed Kidney & liver toxicant |
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Corrosive Flammable Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or alcohol resistant foam to fight fires IMDG Transport Code is usually 8 |
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- |
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NL (Not listed) |
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1779 |
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Packaging Group II (medium danger) |
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formic acid |
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acide formique |
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Ameisensaeure |
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- |
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acido formico |
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- |
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kwas metaniowy |
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mierenzuur |
Record last updated: |
09/01/2023 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |