Ethoprophos

Ethoprophos	Last updated: 09/04/2025
(Also known as: ethoprop; phosethoprop; mocap; ethoprofos)

SUMMARY

Ethoprofos is a broad-spectrum nematicide and insecticide used pre-planting to control nematodes and soil dwelling insects. It is highly soluble in water and many organic solvents. It is also volatile. Ethoprofos tends not to be persistent in soils and, based on physico-chemical properties, it is moderately mobile but not normally expected to present a risk to groundwater. It is highly toxic to mammals, birds and many aquatic species. Ethoprofos is also highly toxic to humans via the oral, dermal and inhalation routes and there are concerns that it may be an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

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; Birds chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High	Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A broad-spectrum nematicide and insecticide used pre-planting to control nematodes and soil dwelling insects

Example pests controlled

Free-form nematodes; Millipedes; Centipedes; Weevils; Wireworms; Cutworms; Noctuids larvae; Symphylids; Caterpillars; White grubs

Example applications

Ornamentals; Fruit including bananas, pineapples; Tobacco; Potatoes; Vegetables; Sugarcane

Efficacy & activity

Research and testing has shown ethoprophos to offer effective control for soil nematodes and insects when used according to label guidelines.

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1966, first reported

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

Italy/Ireland

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

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₈H₁₉O₂PS₂

Canonical SMILES

CCCSP(=O)(OCC)SCCC

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

VJYFKVYYMZPMAB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C8H19O2PS2/c1-4-7-12-11(9,10-6-3)13-8-5-2/h4-8H2,1-3H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Insecticide; Nematicide

Substance groups

Organophosphate insecticide; Organothiophosphate insecticide; Organophosphate nematicide; Organothiophosphate nematicide

Minimum active substance purity

940 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - None declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Non-systemic with contact action. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor.

CAS RN

13194-48-4

EC number

236-152-1

CIPAC number

218

US EPA chemical code

041101

PubChem CID

3289

CLP index number

015-107-00-8

Molecular mass

242.3

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

O-ethyl S,S-dipropyl phosphorodithioate

IUPAC name

O-ethyl S,S-dipropyl phosphorodithioate

CAS name

O-ethyl S,S-dipropyl phosphorodithioate

Other status information

Marine Pollutant

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

None identified

Physical state

Clear to pale yellow liquid

Formulations

Property

Value

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

Bayer CropScience
Mobil Chemicals
Rhone-Poulenc

Example products using this active

Mocap 10G
Mocap 15G
Sanimul
Prophos

Formulation and application details

Often supplied as granules that are applied directly to the soil or incorporated. It is also available as an emulsifiable concentrate

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

1300

High

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

500000

Acetone

500000

Methanol

500000

Ethyl acetate

500000

Toluene

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

244.3

Degradation point (°C)

244.3

Flashpoint (°C)

141

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

9.77 X 10⁰²

Calculated

Log P

2.99

Moderate

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Soluble

Data type

Regulatory data

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.09

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Not applicable

No dissociation

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

78.0

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)

1.35 X 10^-02

Non-volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Neutral soln: 231.0nm=725
Acid soln: 269.0nm=1724
Basic soln: 268.0nm=3815

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

45.1

at 20°C

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

13.6

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

13.6

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

1.3

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

63.0

Moderately persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

15.1

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

13.6

normalised geometric mean

Note

EU 2017 dossier Lab studies DT₅₀ range 4.8-21.1 days, DT₉₀ range 26.2-89.9 days, Soils = 5; Field study DT₅₀ range 0.61-2.1 days, DT₉₀ range 9.3-20.8 days, Soils =2

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

Stable

Note

Stable

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

Value

Stable

Note

Stable pH 5 to pH 7, DT₅₀ 83 days at pH 9, 25 °C

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Moderately fast

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

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

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

Mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

70.0

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

2.0

Moderately mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

111

¹/_n

0.894

Notes and range

EU dossier kf range 0.56-5.60, K_foc range 38-186 mL g⁻¹,¹/_n range 0.82-0.96, Soils=11

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

0.22

Calculated

Low leachability

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

Value

7.46 X 10^-04

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

3.72

Calculated using the Atkinson method. Assumed 1.5E+06 OH/cm³, 12 hr

Below the level of concern for long-range air transport

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

225

Estimated

Threshold for concern

CT₅₀ (days)

Not available

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

$Click here for further information on Major/Minor fraction$

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

O-ethyl-S-propylphosphorothioic acid (Ref: AE 0592496)

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

ethyl phosphate

Plant; Animal

O-ethyl-S-propyl-phosphorothioate
Note: Rat LD50 246 mg/kg bw

EPPA

Plant; Animal

O-ethyl-S-methyl-S-propyl-phosphorothioate
Note: Rat LD50 41.0 mg/kg bw

SME

Plant

O-ethyl-O-methyl-S-propyl-phosphorothioate
Note: Rat LD50 19.2 mg/kg bw

OME

Plant

N-propyl mercaptan

Rat

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Rat

High

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

0.1

Rat

High

(ppm diet)

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

15.7

Rat Reproductive NOAEL

Moderate

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

6.04

Colinus virginianus

High

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

6.51 mg kg bw⁻¹ day⁻¹

Colinus virginianus

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

0.088

Colinus virginianus NOAEL

High

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

39.6

Eisenia foetida

Moderate

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

< 0.835

Eisenia foetida

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen mineralisation: No significant adverse effect
Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect

Dose: 33.3 mg kg⁻¹ soil 44 Day

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

0.004

Folsomia candida corr

Non-target plants

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 15.6

Apis mellifera

Moderate

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

4.07

Apis mellifera

Moderate

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

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)

100% Mortality at dose 7 kg ha⁻¹

Poecilus cupreus

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

0.32

Lepomis macrochirus

Moderate

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

0.064

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

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

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

0.2

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

0.0023

Daphnia magna

High

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

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

0.015

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)

0.002

Chironomus riparius

High

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)

28.3

Unknown species

Low

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

3.2

Unknown species

Low

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)

Rat

High

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

7.9

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.123

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

None allocated

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

None allocated

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

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

List I; List II

Exposure Routes

Public

No unacceptable risks to bystanders identified

Occupational

Exposure possible but acceptable under label recommendations for use concerning personal protection clothing and equipment
Dermal exposure likely to be low

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

New GB MRL in place from 24 April 2023

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Excretion is rapid and primarily via the urine

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

General human health issues

Very toxic by inhalation and dermal absorption
US EPA - probable human carcinogen

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosive
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1

CLP classification 2013

Health: H301, H310, H317, H330
Environment: H400, H410

WHO Classification

Ia (Extremely hazardous)

UN Number

UN2810

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group I (great danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

Chemically stable under standard ambient conditions. Store at cool temperatures.

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

ethoprophos

French

ethoprophos

German

Ethoprophos

Danish

ethoprophos

Italian

etoprofos

Spanish

etoprofos; etoprop

Greek

ethoprophos

Polish

etoprofos

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

ethoprofos

Norwegian

Record last updated:	09/04/2025
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