Urea	Last updated: 13/01/2021
(Also known as: carbamide )

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	Normally thought of as a nitrogen fertiliser, however, it is also used to control certain insect and wood rotting pests
Example pests controlled	Olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae); Conifer root & butt rot (Heterobasidion annosum
Example applications	Olive trees; Conifers; Pines; Wood structures
Efficacy & activity	-
Availability status	Current
Introduction & key dates	1773, discovered

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status	Approved as a commodity substance
Date COPR inclusion expires	31/08/2021
UK LERAP status	No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status	Approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur	UK/Finland
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires	31/08/2021
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)	No
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         ✓

Also used in

Also used in	-

Chemical structure

Isomerism	None
Chemical formula	CH₄N₂O
Canonical SMILES	C(=O)(N)N
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/CH4N2O/c2-1(3)4/h(H4,2,3,4)
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

General status

Pesticide type	Fungicide, Insecticide, Microbiocide, Wood preservative
Other constituent type	Fertiliser, Wood preservative
Substance group	Inorganic compound
Minimum active substance purity	98% w/w
Known relevant impurities	EU dossier - None declared
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Unclear but thought to be related to elevation in pH and ammonia levels as urea degrades
CAS RN	57-13-6
EC number	200-315-5
CIPAC number	913
US EPA chemical code	085702
PubChem CID	1176
Molecular mass	60.06
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	-
IUPAC name	urea
CAS name	urea
Other status information	-
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	-
Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)	Not applicable
Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)	Not applicable
Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)	None allocated
Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)	None
Examples of recorded resistance	None identified
Physical state	White solid with ammoniacal odour
Related substances & organisms	thiourea

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	-
Example products using this active	BASF Dalgety Agriculture Ltd Hydro Agri
Formulation and application details	-

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		590000	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	High
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Melting point (°C)		134	O3 O = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		Decomposes before boiling	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	-
Degradation point (°C)		-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)		73	O2 O = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	2.57 X 10-03	Calculated	-
	Log P	-2.59	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)		1.32	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		13.90	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
		Data as pKb
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		-	-	-
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		-	-	-
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)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	Soil nutrient - main mode of degradation is via enzymatic mineralisation
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	-	-	-
	Note	-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
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	14
	Notes and range	In high peat soils Koc ~ 0.79 mL g⁻¹
Freundlich	Kf	-	-	-
	Kfoc	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
pH sensitivity		No but adsorption increases with organic carbon

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		-	-	-
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	Cannot be calculated	-	-
	Note	-
Potential for particle bound transport index		-	-	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		-	-	-

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	Low risk	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source Based on LogP < 3	Low risk
	CT₅₀ (days)	-		-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 8471	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	Low
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
	(ppm diet)	-		-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		2250	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes Rat Reproductive NOAEL	Low
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		-	-	-
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 17500	O3 O = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Poecilia reticulata	Low
Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		> 2000	P3 P = Other governments and regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Heteropneustes fossilis	Low
Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 10000	P3 P = Other governments and regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	Low
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)		-	-	-
Non-target plants		-	-	-
		-	-	-
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)		10.7	J3 J = Pesticide Action Network database (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Unknown species	Low
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)		Low (class I)	-	-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 8471	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	Low
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		8200	O3 O = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.022	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 (Dust exposure)	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints		-	-	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		None allocated	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		None allocated	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		None allocated	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
Dermal penetration studies (%)		-	-	-
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464		-	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	-
	Occupational	-
European MRLs		EU MRL pesticide database
Drinking Water Standards		-	-	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor ✓Yes, known 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 ✓Yes, known to cause a problem 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		May cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea May cause cardiac disturbances

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	May form explosive products with chlorinating substances
CLP classification 2013	Health: H315, H319, H334, H371 Environment: H413
EC Risk Classification	Carcinogen category 3: R40 Xi- Irritant: 36/37/38
EC Safety Classification	S24/25, S26, S36
WHO Classification	NL (Not listed)
UN Number	-
Waste disposal & packaging	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	urea
French	-
German	-
Danish	-
Italian	-
Spanish	-
Greek	-
Polish	-
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	-

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Record last updated:	13/01/2021
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