Ethion is an organophosphate insecticide and acaricide which is not approved for use in the UK nor the EU. It has a low water solubility but is miscible with most organic solvents. It is moderately persistent in soils but can be persistent in water bodies under certain conditions. It is not mobile. Based on its physico-chemical parameters, ethion is not expected to leach to groundwater. It demonstrates a moderate to high level of toxicity for most species. There are concerns regarding its toxicity to humans being moderately toxic via the oral route, an acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor and neurotoxin.
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: Persistent; Potential for particle bound transport: High
Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An insecticide and acaricide used to control a range of pests. Can also be a pesticide transformation product
Example pests controlled
Red spidermite (Tetranychus urticae); Planthoppers; Aphids; Scale insects; Codling moth
Example applications
Fruit including apples, pears, citrus; Onions; Cotton; Cereals
Efficacy & activity
-
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1957, first reported
UK regulatory status
UK COPR regulatory status
Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires
Expired
UK LERAP status
No UK approval for use
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
EC Regulation 1107/2009 status
Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur
France
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
G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-mobile
Koc
10000
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf
-
-
-
Kfoc
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
0.00
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
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