Chloropicrin

Chloropicrin	Last updated: 26/05/2025
(Also known as: trichloronitromethane; chlorpicrine; PS)

SUMMARY

Chloropicrin is a fumigant insecticide and nematicide for use with a wide variety of crops. It is highly soluble in water and is highly volatile but tends not to be persistent in the environment. Chloropicrin demonstrates a moderate to high toxicity to most biodiversity. The main exception is that it is not considered to be a bee toxin. It has a moderate mammalian toxicity and is a potential skin, eye and respiratory tract irritant.

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 High alert: Drainflow: Mobile	Ecotoxicity High alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High	Human health High alert: Mammals chronic toxicity: High

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A preplant soil fumigant used to control soil borne fungi, diseases and nematodes

Example pests controlled

Caterpillars; Aphids; Scale insects; Spidermites; Whiteflies; Nematodes

Example applications

Strawberries; Peppers; Onions; Curcubits; Tobacco; Tomatoes; Ornamentals; Nursery stock; Tree crops, Olives

Efficacy & activity

Published evidence is limited but use has been extensive.

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1848, first synthesised; 1908, pesticidal activity reported

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

GB LERAP status

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

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

USA; Australia; Morocco

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

CCl₃NO₂

Canonical SMILES

C([N+](=O)[O-])(Cl)(Cl)Cl

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

LFHISGNCFUNFFM-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/CCl3NO2/c2-1(3,4)5(6)7

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Insecticide; Nematicide

Substance groups

Fumigant insecticide; Fumigant nematicide

Minimum active substance purity

990 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - None declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Via vapour, exact mode of action is multi-site and non-specific

CAS RN

76-06-2

EC number

200-930-9

CIPAC number

298

US EPA chemical code

081501

PubChem CID

6423

CLP index number

610-001-00-3

Molecular mass

164.37

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

trichloro(nitro)methane

IUPAC name

trichloronitromethane

CAS name

trichloronitromethane

Other status information

Potential groundwater contaminant; Marine Pollutant; Chemical subject to PIC regulations; PAN Bad Actor Chemical; 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

Sitophilus oryzae

Physical state

Colourless liquid

Formulations

Property

Value

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

Dewco-Lloyd
K&S Fumigation
Saluterra Pty Ltd

Example products using this active

Chloropicrin Fumigant
K&S Chlorofume
Terr-O-gas
Pic-Brom
Telone
MIPIC 330 Soil Fumigant

Formulation and application details

Fumigant. Vapour releasing products that are usually applied with specialised injection equipment or hand-operatated equipment for small areas

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

2021

High

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

500000

Acetone

500000

Ethanol

500000

Xylene

500000

Hexane

Melting point (°C)

Not applicable

freezes at -70 °C

Boiling point (°C)

114

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

3.16 X 10⁰²

Calculated

Log P

2.5

at 25 °C

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.66

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Not applicable

No dissociation

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

4.23 X 10⁰⁶

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)

3.44 X 10⁰²

Volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Neutral solution: 203.7nm = 1648, 274nm = 32
Acidic solution: 204.4nm = 1512, 274.2nm = 28
Basic solution: 275nm = 33

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

71.0

at 20°C

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

4.2

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

4.2

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

3.0

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

23.3

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU 2017 dossier Lab studies DT₅₀ 2.7-21.8 days, DT₉₀ range 2.7-89.3 days, Soils=8; Field study DT₅₀ 0.48-5.6 days 2 soils. Other sources: DT₅₀ 1.0 day (DW3)

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

1.3

Moderately fast

Note

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

Value

Stable

Note

Stable pH 5 to pH 9

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

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)

0.66

Mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

60.5

¹/_n

0.91

Notes and range

EU dossier K_f range 0.414-1.15, K_foc range 24.9-122 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.68-1.08, Soils=4

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

1.06

Calculated

Low leachability

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

Value

2.38 X 10^-03

Calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Low

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Mobile

Calculated

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

1975.2

Calculated using the Atkinson method, 12 hr

Substance of concern for long-range air transport

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

chloromethane

Minor fraction

Anaerobic

nitromethane

Minor fraction

0.03

Anaerobic

chloroform

Minor fraction

dichloronitromethane

Major fraction

0.174

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)

dichloronitromethane

Relevant

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

dichloro(methyl)hydroxylamine

Soil leachate

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

250

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

Rat

High

(ppm diet)

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

> 2.71

Rat Reproductive NOAEL

High

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

62.0

Colinus virginianus

High

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

108 mg kg feed⁻¹

Colinus virginianus

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

10.6

Colinus virginianus NOAEL

Moderate

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

37.8

Eisenia foetida

Moderate

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

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen mineralisation: Chronic effect [Dose: field rate]
Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect [Dose: 5 x field rate]
Bacterial populations: No significant adverse effect

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)

> 100

Apis mellifera

Low

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)

> 12.2

Apis mellifera Inhalation

Moderate

Chronic

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)

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)

0.0048

Oncorhynchus mykiss

High

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

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

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

0.150

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

0.0025

Daphnia magna

High

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

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

0.030

Americamysis bahia

High

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)

0.014

Lemna minor

Moderate

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

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

0.00011

Raphidocelis subcapitata

High

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

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

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)

250

Rat

Moderate

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

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.044

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

0.001

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

0.001

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

None allocated

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

0.001

Dermal penetration studies (%)

100

default

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Bystander exposure unlikely based on typical patterns of use
Minimal risk of dietary exposure

Occupational

Risk of exposure acceptable under label recommendations for use for personal protection clothing and equipment
Risk of exposure by inhalation

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

0.1

EU Dir 89/778/EC limit; Calc MAC=3 µg l⁻¹

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Extensively metabolised, eliminated mainly via expired air with some loses via urine and faeces

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Highly toxic

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosive or oxidising
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302, H330, H335, H315, H319

WHO Classification

Not classified: Fumigant (Not classified: Fumigant)

UN Number

UN1580

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group I (great danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

chloropicrin

French

chloropicrine

German

Chlorpikrin

Danish

chloropicrin

Italian

cloropicrina

Spanish

cloropicrina

Greek

Polish

chloropikryna

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

chloorpikrine

Norwegian

Record last updated:	26/05/2025
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