Nicotine

Nicotine	Last updated: 16/03/2024
(Not known by any other names)

Data alerts

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
Environmental fate Moderate alert: Drainflow: Moderately mobile Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity High alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: High	Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Genotoxic; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A general purpose, plant derived non-persistent insecticide

Example pests controlled

Aphids; Thrips; Whiteflies

Example applications

Efficacy & activity

Appearance and life cycle

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

pre-1940, introduced

Taxonomic classification

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Expired

UK LERAP status

Not applicable

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Expired

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece

ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg

LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Known to be used in the following countries

Chemical structure

Isomerism

A chiral molecule. The technical material is a racemate composed of equimolar amounts of (R)- and (S)-nicotine.

Chemical formula

C₁₀H₁₄N₂

Canonical SMILES

CN1CCCC1C2=CN=CC=C2

Isomeric SMILES

CN1CCC[C@H]1C2=CN=CC=C2

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C10H14N2/c1-12-7-3-5-10(12)9-4-2-6-11-8-9/h2,4,6,8,10H,3,5,7H2,1H3/t10-/m0/s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Biopesticide type

Insecticide

Substance groups

Plant derived substance

Minimum active substance purity

950 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - None declared

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Broad spectrum and fast acting nerve toxin. Mainly respiratory action but some contact and stomach activity. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulator.

Substance source

Isolated from tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) and from other plants including those belonging to the Lycopodiaceae, Grassulaceae & Leguminosae families

Substance production

Usually manufactered for crop protection applications

Uses

Crop protection

Target pests

Wide range of insects including aphids and thrips

Target host

Wide range of crops including fruit, vegetables, grapes and protected ornamentals

Farming system suitability

CAS RN

54-11-5

EC number

200-193-3

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

056702

PubChem CID

Molecular mass

162.23

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(S)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine

CAS name

3-((2S)-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridine

Other status information

Chemical subject to PIC regulations; Subject to the provisions of the UK Poisons Act 1972

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

Colourless liquid with brown tint

Formulations

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Example products

Nicotine 40% Shreds

Dow AgroSciences

Formulation and application details

Often used as smoke generating formulations within glasshouses and potato chitting houses. Typically around 225g product per 560 cubic metres are used.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

1000000

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Miscible

Ethanol

Miscible

Diethyl ether

Melting point (°C)

-79

Boiling point (°C)

247

Degradation point (°C)

247

Flashpoint (°C)

101

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

1.48 X 10⁰¹

Calculated

Log P

1.17

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Insoluble

Data type

Regulatory data based on LogP

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.01

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

3.1

Nicotine is a base pKb1= 6.16; pKb2= 10.96 (CA3)

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

5620

Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

9.0 X 10^-04

Non-volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

Best available data

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

11.6

Note

Published literature RL₅₀ range 3.5-28.0 days, 3 field crops, various matrices, n=3

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d

Moderately mobile

K_oc

100

Notes and range

Estimated

Freundlich

K_f

K_foc

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

$Click here for further information on Major/Minor fraction$

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

nornicotine

Minor fraction

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Metabolising enzymes

nicotinic acid

Plant

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Rat

High

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 17.8

Unknown species

High

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 50

Moderate

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Harmful

Parasitic wasp

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

4.0

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

2.9

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 8.11

Danio rerio Eggs

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.242

Daphnia pulex

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

0.2

Daphnia pulex

Moderate

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Rat

High

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

50.0

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

Subcutaneous LD₅₀ = 25 mg kg⁻¹

Rat

Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 5.9 mg kg⁻¹

Mouse

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.0001

Humans SF=1000

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.0001

Humans SF=1000

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.001

Humans SF=1000

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Bystanders may be exposed during glasshouse venting operations

Occupational

High risk of operator exposure via inhalation

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Highly toxic
May cause cardiovasular diseases
Some data suggests nicotine may be carcinogenic

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosive or oxidising
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1

CLP classification 2013

Health: H300, H310, H330
Environment: H400

WHO Classification

Ib (Highly hazardous)

UN Number

UN1654

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group II (moderate danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

nicotine

French

nicotine

German

Nikotin

Danish

nikotin

Italian

nicotina

Spanish

nicotina

Greek

Polish

nikotyna

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	16/03/2024
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