Glyphosate-trimesium

Glyphosate-trimesium	Last updated: 11/04/2025
(Also known as: trimethylsulfonium glyphosate)

SUMMARY

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: Potential for particle bound transport: Medium	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate; Earthworms chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health Moderate alert: Mammals acute toxicity: Moderate; Possible Carcinogen; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A herbicide used in a wide range of cropping, utility and industrial situations for broad-spectrum control of weeds and grases

Example pests controlled

Annual and perennial weeds, Broadleaved weeds, Grasses

Example applications

Cereals; Soybeans; Glyphosate tolerant crops; Horticulture; Forestry; Domestic gardens, lawns

Efficacy & activity

Efficacy demonstrated by field trials and extensive global use

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1971, first reported; 1989, introduced in Spain

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

15/12/2026

GB LERAP status

Check label - may vary with formulation

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Assessment Group on Glyphosate

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

15/12/2033

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

Also used in

Australia; USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₆H₁₆NO₅PS

Canonical SMILES

C[S+](C)C.C(C(=O)O)NCP(=O)(O)[O-]

Isomeric SMILES

Not applicable

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

RUCAXVJJQQJZGU-UHFFFAOYSA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C3H8NO5P.C3H9S/c5-3(6)1-4-2-10(7,8)9;1-4(2)3/h4H,1-2H2,(H,5,6)(H2,7,8,9);1-3H3/q;+1/p-1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
glyphosate	Parent

General status

Pesticide type

Herbicide

Substance groups

Organophosphate herbicide; Phosphonoglycine herbicide

Minimum active substance purity

950 g kg⁻¹ as acid

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - None declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Broad-spectrum, systemic, translocated and non-residual. Inhibition of EPSP synthase.

CAS RN

81591-81-3

EC number

213-997-4

CIPAC number

284

US EPA chemical code

128501

PubChem CID

105048

CLP index number

607-315-00-8

Molecular mass

245.23

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

trimethylsulfonium N-[(hydroxyphosphinato)methyl]glycine

IUPAC name

trimethylsulfonium N-[(hydroxyphosphinato)methyl]glycine

CAS name

2-(phosphonomethylamino)acetate; trimethylsulfonium

Other status information

Risk of herbicide resistance developing - anti-resistance management required; PAN listed Highly Hazardous Chemical

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Eleusine indica, Euphorbia heterophylla

Physical state

White solid

Related substances & organisms

glyphosate

glyphosate-diammonium

glyphosate-monoammonium

glyphosate-monopotassium

Formulations

Property

Value

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Monsanto
Syngenta

Example products using this active

Coloso
Ouragan
Zapp

Formulation and application details

Often supplied as a soluble concentrate that is mixed with water and applied as a spray

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

1050000

High

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

Acetone

Xylene

Heptane

174000

Methanol

Melting point (°C)

Decomposes before melting

Boiling point (°C)

Decomposes before boiling

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

1.26 X 10^-03

Calculated

Log P

-2.9

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.42

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Fully dissociated in water

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

0.0131

Low volatility

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

2.0 X 10^-09

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)

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

144

Persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

149

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU 2015 dossier lab studies DT₅₀ range 3-62 days, DT₉₀ range 81-207 days, field studies DT₅₀ range 1.5-34 days USA and Germany, DT₉₀ range 76-326 days

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Stable

Note

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

Value

Stable

Note

Stable pH 5 to pH 9 up to 50 °C

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

183

Slow

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Slow

Sediment 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.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

0.93

Non-mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

27621

¹/_n

0.97

Notes and range

EU 2015 dossier K_foc 530-180000 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.84-1.1

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

-0.59

Calculated

Low leachability

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

5.35 X 10^-03

Calculated

Note

Estimated concentrations of chemicals with Koc values greater than 9995 ml g⁻¹ are beyond the scope of the regression data used in SCI-GROW development. If there are concerns for such chemicals, a higher tier groundwater exposure assessment should be considered, regardless of the concentration returned by SCI-GROW

Potential for particle bound transport index

Medium

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Non-mobile

Calculated

Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low risk

Based on LogP < 3

Low risk

CT₅₀ (days)

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

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

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

glyphosate (Ref: MON 0573)

Major fraction

1.0

aminomethylphosphonic acid

Major fraction

0.154

Known groundwater metabolites

Metabolite

EC SANCO/221/2000 relevancy

ADI (mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight day⁻¹)

WHO drinking water guidance value (μg L⁻¹ day⁻¹)

glyphosate (Ref: MON 0573)

Relevant

aminomethylphosphonic acid

Relevant

Other known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

748

Rat

Moderate

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)

950

Unknown species

Moderate

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

> 5000 mg kg feed⁻¹

Unknown species

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

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

> 1000

Eisenia foetida

Low

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

21.31

Eisenia foetida as glyphosate

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen mineralisation: No significant adverse effect
Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect

Dose: 18 kg ha⁻¹

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)

> 400

Apis mellifera

Low

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

> 400

Apis mellifera

Low

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

Chronic as 10-day LDD₅₀ µg bee⁻¹ day⁻¹

> 179

Apis mellifera as glyphosate

Notes

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) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹ 48 hr

8400

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹ 7 day

5089

Typhlodromus pyri

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)

1800

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

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

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

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

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

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

1.1

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

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

16.0

Americamysis bahia

Moderate

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 (free-floating, growth) - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Unknown species

Low

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth) - Acute 14 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

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

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

0.72

Unknown species

Moderate

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves – Acute EC₅₀, immobility (mg l⁻¹)

> 105.0

Crassostrea gigas Embryo

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)

748

Rat

Moderate

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

2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.0

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

0.5

Dog & Rat SF=100 as Glyphosate

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

1.5

Rabbit SF=100 as Glyphosate

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

0.3

Rabbit SF=500 as Glyphosate

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

0.1

Dog & Rabbit SF=500 as Glyphosate

Dermal penetration studies (%)

1.0

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Risks to bystanders and residents considered low

Occupational

PPE/PPC recommended to reduce risks

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

GB MRL amended July 2021

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Rapid and extensive - approx 90% in 24hrs mainly via faeces

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

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

IARC Group 2A carcinogen; US EPA - no evidence to support classification as human carcinogen; EFSA - inconclusive data for cancer in humans
Possible bladder and liver toxicant

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

IMDG Transport Hazard Class 9
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable
Not oxidising or explosive

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302
Environment: H411

WHO Classification

III (Slightly hazardous)

UN Number

UN3077

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

glyphosate-trimesium

French

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

glifosat-trimesium

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	11/04/2025
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