Disulfoton (Ref: ENT 23347)	Last updated: 23/01/2025
(Also known as: M 74; ethylhiometon; thiodemeton; dithiodemeton; dithiosystox)

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SUMMARY

Disulfoton is an organothiophosphate insecticide and acaricide that is not approved for use in the EU. It has a moderate aqueous solubility, is moderately volatile and, based on its chemical properties it would not normally be expected to leach to groundwater. It can be persistent in some soil systems but would not normally be persistent in water bodies. It is highly toxic to mammals, a cholinesterase inhibitor, a neurotoxicant and there are some concerns regarding its carcinogenicity. It is moderately or highly toxic to most fauna.

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: Drainflow: Slightly mobile; Potential for particle bound transport: Medium	Ecotoxicity High alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: High	Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	An organophosphate aphicide and insecticide used to sucking insects on agricultural crops
Example pests controlled	Aphids; Thrips; Mealybugs; Spider mites; Leaf miners; Leaf hoppers; Beet flies
Example applications	Cotton; Tobacco; Sugarbeet; Cole crops; Peanuts; Corn; Wheat; Ornamentals; Cereals grains; Potatoes
Efficacy & activity
Availability status	Current
Introduction & key dates	1956, introduced

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status	Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires	Expired
GB LERAP status	No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent

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	Expired
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	Australia; USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism	None
Chemical formula	C₈H₁₉O₂PS₃
Canonical SMILES	CCOP(=S)(OCC)SCCSCC
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	SYJFEGQWDCRVNX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C8H19O2PS3/c1-4-9-11(12,10-5-2)14-8-7-13-6-3/h4-8H2,1-3H3
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

General status

Pesticide type	Insecticide; Acaricide
Substance groups	Organophosphate insecticide; Organophosphate acaricide; Organothiophosphate insecticide; Organothiophosphate acaricide
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Systemic absorbed via roots. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor.
CAS RN	298-04-4
EC number	206-054-3
CIPAC number	152
US EPA chemical code	032501
PubChem CID	3118
CLP index number	015-060-00-3
Molecular mass	274.40
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	O,O-diethyl S-[2-(ethylsulfanyl)ethyl] phosphorodithioate
IUPAC name	O,O-diethyl S-2-ethylthioethyl phosphorodithioate
CAS name	O,O-diethyl S-[2-(ethylthio)ethyl] phosphorodithioate
Other status information	Potential groundwater contaminant; Marine Pollutant; 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)	1B
Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)	Not applicable
Examples of recorded resistance	Myzus persicae, Phorodon humuli, Rhizoglyphus robini, Tetranychus kanzawai, Leucoptera coffeella, many others
Physical state	Yellow oil

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	Bayer Sandoz Mobay
Example products using this active	Disyston Frumin AL Solvirex
Formulation and application details	Available in a variety of formulations includign emulsifiable concentrates, dry seed dressings and granules

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		25	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	Moderate
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 n-Hexane	-
		Miscible	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Dichloromethane	-
		Miscible	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Isopropanol	-
		Miscible	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Toluene	-
Melting point (°C)		-25	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		-	-	-
Degradation point (°C)		-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)		133	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	8.91 X 1003	Calculated	-
	Log P	3.95	H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data	High
Fat solubility of residues	Solubility	Soluble	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	-
	Data type	Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies	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	-
Density (g ml⁻¹)		1.14	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		-	-	-
		-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		7.2	H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data	Moderately 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)		1.60 X 10-01	H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data	Moderately 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)	30	M4 M = GLEAMS Model database (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems). Dataset no longer available. 4 = Verified data	Moderately persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	2	M4 M = GLEAMS Model database (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems). Dataset no longer available. 4 = Verified data	Non-persistent
	DT₅₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	Best available data
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	4	P2 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 2 = Unverified data of unknown source	Moderately fast
	Note	-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	300	P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source	Persistent
	Note	-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)		15	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Fast
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)		15	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	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		[Milled, toasted maize flour (gofio): 33 days @ dark, ambient conditions; Field study], [Milled, toasted wheat flour (gofio): 24 days @ dark, ambient conditions; Field study]

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Linear	Kd (mL g⁻¹)	-	H3 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 3 = Unverified data of known source	Slightly mobile
	Koc (mL g⁻¹)	1345
	Notes and range	Other sources: 600 mL g⁻¹ (DW3)
Freundlich	Kf (mL g⁻¹)	39.5	Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source	-
	Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)	-
	1/n	1.09
	Notes and range	General literature data: Kf range 15.5-24.3 mL g⁻¹, mean of 8 values for 2 loam soils.
pH sensitivity		-

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		0.26	Calculated	Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	6.29 X 10-04	Calculated	-
	Note	-
Potential for particle bound transport index		Medium	Calculated	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		Slightly mobile	Calculated	-
Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk		-	-	-
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	460	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Whole fish	Threshold for concern
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite	Major/Minor fraction	Estimated maximum occurrence fraction	Notes
disulfoton sulfoxide (Ref: BAY 23323)	Minor fraction	0.05	-
disulfoton sulfone	Minor fraction	-	-

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference	Aliases	Formation medium / Rate	Estimated maximum occurrence fraction
4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid	HMMA	Rat	-
diethyl phosphorothiolate	DEPTh	Human (Urine)	-
diethyl phosphate	DEP	Human (Urine)	-
diethyl thiophosphate	DETP	Human (Urine)	-
diethyl dithiophosphate	DEDPT	Human (Urine)	-
disulfoton sulfoxide (Ref: BAY 23323)	BAY 23323	Rat	-
disulfoton sulfone	-	Rat	-
disulfoton S-sulfoxide	-	Rat	-
-	-	-	-

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		2.6	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Rat	High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	-	L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Rat 2 yr	-
	(ppm diet)	1		-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		39	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)		-	-	-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		180	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Moderate
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)		-	-	-
Soil micro-organisms		-	-	-
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)	0.96	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Apis mellifera	High
	Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	4.1	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Apis mellifera	Moderate
	Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Chronic	-	-	-
	Notes	[The residual time to 25% mortality (RT25) value for honeybees is 5.5 hrs - USEPA data]
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)	Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	> 1.0	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Bombus spp.	Moderate
		Literature values range 1.0-6.0 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)		0.039	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Lepomis macrochirus	High
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		0.22	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss 35 day LOEC	Moderate
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 100	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Danio rerio	Low
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.013	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	High
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		0.00004	P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	High
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.1	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source 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)		-	-	-
Aquatic plants (rooted, growth) - Acute 14 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)		0.036	F2 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Unknown species	Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)		0.01	Q1 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 1 = Estimated data with little or no verification Unknown species	Moderate
Mesocosm study data	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-
	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)		2.6	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Rat	High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		3.6	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.015	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		List I; List II	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	-
	Occupational	Rapidly absorbed through the skin
MRLs	European	EU MRL pesticide database
	Great Britain	GB MRL Register
	Notes	-
Drinking Water Standards		-	-	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate		Metabolised and excreted in urine	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor XNo, known not to cause a problem 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 ; E2 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 2 = Mixed/ambiguous results No data found Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant ?Possibly, status not identified ✓Yes, known to cause a problem ✓Yes, known to cause a problem Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser No data found No data found No data found Eye irritant Phototoxicant   No data found No data found
General human health issues		No further information available

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
CLP classification 2013	Health: H300, H310 Environment: H400, H410
WHO Classification	Ia (Extremely hazardous)
UN Number	UN3018
Waste disposal & packaging	-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	disulfoton
French	disulfoton
German	Disulfoton
Danish	disulfoton
Italian	disulfoton
Spanish	disulfoton
Greek	disulfoton
Polish	disulfoton
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	disulfoton
Norwegian	-

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Record last updated:	23/01/2025
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