Alachlor (Ref: CP 50144 )
Last updated: 13/01/2023
(Also known as: alachlore; acetanilide; methachlor; metachlor; CDMA)
Alachlor is a pre-emergence chloroacetanilide herbicide. It is moderately soluble in water, quite volatile and is not expected to readily leach to groundwater. It tends not to persist in either soil or water systems. It has a moderate mammalian toxicity and a low potential for bioaccumulation. Alachlor is moderately toxic to birds, most aquatic organisms, honeybees and earthworms.
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
A chloroacetanilide herbicide for pre-emergence control of annual grasses and broad-leaved weeds
Goosegrass; Crab grass; Herringbone grass; Sweet buffalo grass; Barnyard grass; Nutsedge; Pigweed; Sow thistle; Purslane; Chickweed
Maize; Potatoes; Soybean; Sunflowers; Brassicas; Pineapples; Sugarcane
-
Current
1969
Not approved
Expired
No UK approval for use
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
Not approved
Spain
Expired
Not applicable
Yes
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None
C₁₄H₂₀ClNO₂
CCC1=C(C(=CC=C1)CC)N(COC)C(=O)CCl
No data
XCSGPAVHZFQHGE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C14H20ClNO2/c1-4-11-7-6-8-12(5-2)14(11)16(10-18-3)13(17)9-15/h6-8H,4-5,9-10H2,1-3H3
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name
Relationship
Link
alachlor
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Herbicide
Chloroacetanilide herbicide
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-
Synthetic
Selective, systemic action absorbed by germinating shoots. Inhibition of VLCFA (inhibition of cell division)
15972-60-8
240-110-8
204
090501
2078
616-015-00-6
269.77
2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide
2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N-methoxymethylacetanilide
2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide
WFD priority substance; OSPAR candidate; Potential groundwater contaminant; Chemical subject to PIC regulations; PAN Bad Actor
EU Directive 2008/105/EC EQS surface waters: annual average 0.3 µg l⁻¹; max measured 0.7 µg l⁻¹
K3
15
Not applicable
Not applicable
-
Colourless/yellow crystals
Monsanto Makhteshim-Agan Pillar International
Lasso Alanex Pillarzo Bullet Cannon Bronco
Usually supplied as emulsifiable concentrates, microscopic capsules and granules
240
Moderate
-
-
-
41
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
100
-
105
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
137
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
(closed cup)
-
1.23 X 1003
Calculated
-
3.09
High
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.13
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
0.62
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Strong acid
2.9
Low volatility
3.20 X 10-03
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
14
Non-persistent
35
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Moderately persistent
14
Non-persistent
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Field studies DT₅₀ range 1-3 weeks; Other sources: DT₅₀ 80 days (R2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.5
K3 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 3 = Unverified data of known source
Fast
Stable to UV light
0.5
Non-persistent
-
2
Fast
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
-
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderately mobile
335
-
16.5
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Slightly mobile
1994
0.81
Literature values: Kf range 11.8-20.5 mL g⁻¹; Kfoc range 339-4214 mL g⁻¹, 1 /n range 0.70-0.91, Soils = 5
-
0.80
Calculated
Low leachability
1.31 X 10-02
Calculated
-
-
Medium
Calculated
-
Moderately mobile
Calculated
-
39
P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data
Low potential
Not available
-
Known groundwater metabolites
None
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
930
Rat
Moderate
10
Rat
High
200
-
-
-
-
1536
Colinus virginianus
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
386.8
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16
K4 K = Research datasets, e.g. Pandora, Demetra 4 = Verified data
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.8
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
0.19
P3 P = Other governments and regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Unknown species
Moderate
10
Daphnia magna
Moderate
0.22
P3 P = Other governments and regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Unknown species
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.01
Lemna minor
Moderate
0.966
Scenedesmus quadricauda
Moderate
0.02
Chlorella pyrenoidosa
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
High (class III)
-
-
930
Rat
Moderate
13300
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rabbit
-
1.04
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
-
-
-
0.01
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Low risk to Europeans as no longer approved for use
Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact
EU MRL pesticide database 
-
Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.02 mg l⁻¹
UK EA QS database 2018
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carcinogen
Endocrine disruptor
?Possibly, status not identified
A3 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 3 = Negative
; 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
; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative
?Possibly, status not identified
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
XNo, known not to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
?Possibly, status not identified
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
 
US Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program listed carcinogen Probable lung and kidney toxicant Causes irreversible eye damage Possibly genotoxic Endocrine issues - Competitive binding to estrogen and progesterone receptors
Corrosive
Health: H302, H317, H351 Environment: H400, H410
II (Moderately hazardous)
2588
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alachlor
alachlore
Alachlor
alachlor
alaclor
alacloro
-
alachlor
-
alachlor
alachloor
Record last updated:
13/01/2023
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