Acrolein	Last updated: 04/01/2021
(Also known as: acrylaldehyde; ethylene aldehyde; acrylic aldehyde; magnacide; aqualin)

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SUMMARY

Acrolein is a herbicide without EU regulatory approval for use. It is highly soluble in water, highly volatile and, based on its chemical properties, it is mobile and has a high potential to leach to groundwater. It is not considered to be persistent in soil or aquatic systems. It is highly toxic to mammals and there is some concern that it may bioaccumulate. It is classified as an irritant. It shows a high level of toxicity to birds and moderate to high toxicity for most aquatic species. There is little information on its toxicity to biodiversity.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	An algicide, slimicide and aquatic herbicide used for clearing ditches and drainage canals
Example pests controlled	Submersed weeds such as potamogeton, spirogyra, zannichella; Floating weeds such as watercress, water hyacincth, water primrose; Algae; Snails
Example applications	Irrigation canals; Ditches; Drainage channels
Efficacy & activity	-
Availability status	Current
Introduction & key dates	1962

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status	Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires	Not applicable
UK LERAP status	No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status	Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur	Not applicable
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires	Not applicable
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)	Not applicable
Listed in EU database	No
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

Also used in

Also used in	Australia, USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism	None
Chemical formula	C₃H₄O
Canonical SMILES	C=CC=O
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	HGINCPLSRVDWNT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C3H4O/c1-2-3-4/h2-3H,1H2
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
acrolein	-

General status

Pesticide type	Herbicide; Molluscicide (aquatic)
Substance group	Aldehyde
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Contact action which degrades cell structure
CAS RN	107-02-8
EC number	203-453-4
CIPAC number	None allocated
US EPA chemical code	000701
PubChem CID	7847
Molecular mass	56.06
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	prop-2-enal
IUPAC name	prop-2-enal
CAS name	2-propenal
Other status information	Marine Pollutant; Water pollutant
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	-
Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)	Not known
Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)	Not known
Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)	Not applicable
Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)	Not applicable
Examples of recorded resistance	-
Physical state	Colourless to yellow liquid with strong acrid smell

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	Magnacide H Crolean Aqualin Aquinite
Example products using this active	Baker Petrolite Co.
Formulation and application details	-

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		208000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	High
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		Miscible	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Benzene	-
		Miscible	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Diethyl ether	-
Melting point (°C)		-87	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		52.5	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Degradation point (°C)		-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)		-17.8	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source (closed cup)	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	9.77 X 10-01	Calculated	-
	Log P	-0.01	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	Low
Bulk density (g ml⁻¹)		0.84	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		-	-	-
		-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		29000000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Highly volatile
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		19.5	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Moderately volatile
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)	17	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	0.4	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-persistent
	DT₅₀ (field)	17	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-persistent
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	General literature values DT₅₀ range laboratory 7.5-10.2 hrs, field studies DT₅₀ range 7-28 days
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7	Value	4	Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source	Moderately fast
	Note	-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	1.5	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-persistent
	Note	pH sensitive: 3.5 days at pH 5, 0.2 days at pH 10
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Linear	Kd	-	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	Very mobile
	Koc	3.0
	Notes and range	Other sources: 1 mL g⁻¹ (US3; DW3)
Freundlich	Kf	-	-	-
	Kfoc	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
pH sensitivity		-

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		4.33	Calculated	High leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	5.60 X 10-01	Calculated	-
	Note	-
Potential for particle bound transport index		Low	Calculated	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		Very mobile	Calculated	-

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	344	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Lepomis macrochirus	Threshold for concern
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		29	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Rat	High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	5	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	High
	(ppm diet)	-		-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 19	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Colinus virginianus	High
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 0.15	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss	Moderate
Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		0.0091	P3 P = Other governments and regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Pimephales promelas mortality	High
Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.022	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	High
Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (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)		0.07	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Lemna gibba	Moderate
Non-target plants		-	-	-
		-	-	-
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)		0.05	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Raphidocelis subcapitata	Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Honeybees (Apis 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)	-	-	-
	Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
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 pollinators (1)	Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Mode of exposure	-
Other pollinators (2)	Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Mode of exposure	-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		-	-	-
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)		-	-	-
Other soil macro-organisms	Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
Other arthropod (1)	LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹	-	-	-
	% Effect	-	-	-
Other arthropod (2)	LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹	-	-	-
	% Effect	-	-	-
Soil micro-organisms		-	-	-
Mesocosm study data	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-
	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)		Intermediate (class II)	-	-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		29	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Rat	High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		231	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rabbit	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		8.3	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints		-	-	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
Dermal penetration studies (%)		-	-	-
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464		-	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	-
	Occupational	-
MRLs	European	EU MRL pesticide database
	Notes	-
Drinking Water Standards		-	-	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic 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 No data found Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant No data found XNo, known not to cause a problem XNo, known not to cause a problem 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   ✓Yes, known to cause a problem No data found
General human health issues		Highly toxic, causes respiratory congestion and heart failure IARC group 3 carcinogen

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	No information available
CLP classification 2013	-
EC Risk Classification	T+ - Very toxic: R26 T - Toxic: R24/25 H - Handling risks: R11, R34 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50
EC Safety Classification	S23, S26, S28, S45, S61, S36/27/39
WHO Classification	Ib (Highly hazardous / Highly hazardous)
UN Number	1092
Waste disposal & packaging	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	acrolein
French	acroléine
German	Acrolein
Danish	acrolein
Italian	acrilaldeide
Spanish	acroleina
Greek	-
Polish	akroleina
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	acroleine

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Record last updated:	04/01/2021
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