| silica |
 |
Environmental Fate - Ecotoxicology - Human Health - A to Z Index - Home
GENERAL INFORMATION 
for silica
Description: Inert mineral used as a carrier in some pesticide products and sometimes used as an insecticide
Example pests controlled: Ticks; Mites; bedbugs; Cockroaches
Example applications: Non-agricultural situations
Efficacy & activity: -
Availability status: Current
Introduction & key dates: -
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Not approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Not applicable |
| Date inclusion expires | Not applicable |
| EU Candidate for substitution (CfS) | Not applicable |
| Listed in EU database | No |
Approved for use (
) or known to be used (
) in the following European countries: 
AT |
BE |
BG |
CY |
CZ |
DE |
DK |
EE |
EL |
ES |
FI |
FR |
HR |
HU |
IE |
IT |
LT |
LU |
LV |
MT |
NL |
PL |
PT |
RO |
SE |
SI |
SK |
UK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also used in: Most countries
Chemical structure:
| Isomerism | - |
| Chemical formula | SiO2 |
| Canonical SMILES | O=[Si]=O |
| Isomeric SMILES | No data |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/O2Si/c1-3-2 |
| 2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
General status:
| Pesticide type | Insecticide, Acaricide, Other substance | |||
| Other constituent type | Carrier | |||
| Substance group | Metal oxide | |||
| Minimum active substance purity | - | |||
| Known relevant impurities | - | |||
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |||
| Mode of action | Inert but acts as an insecticide via its abrasive and desiccant physical properties | |||
| CAS RN | 7631-86-9 | |||
| EC number | 231-545-4 | |||
| CIPAC number | None allocated | |||
| US EPA chemical code | 072605 | |||
| PubChem CID | 24261 | |||
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 60.08 | |||
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | - | |||
| IUPAC name | dioxosilane | |||
| CAS name | silicon dioxide | |||
| Other status information | - | |||
| Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards | - | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |||
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Examples of recorded resistance | - | |||
| Physical state | White powder | |||
| Related substances & organisms | ||||
Formulations:
| Property |
Value | |||
| Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically | - | |||
| Example products using this active |
|
|||
| UK LERAP status | No UK approval for use as a pesticide under EC Regulation 1107/2009 | |||
| Formulation and application details | A free flowing additive to powders, granules etc. | |||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 120 | Q3 | Moderate | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Melting point (oC) | 1610 | A5 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | - | - | - |
| Log P | - | - | - | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | 2.2 | Q3 | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | - | - | - | |
| Note: | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 20oC (mPa) | 1350000 | A5 | Highly volatile | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | - | - | - | |
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 | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Potential for particle bound transport index |
- | - | - | |
| Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol-1 cm-1 | - | - | - | |
| Surface tension (mN m-1) | - | - | - | |
Degradation:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
General biodegradability | - |
| Soil degradation (days) (aerobic) | DT50 (typical) | 730 | Q3 | Very persistent |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note | Literature states that the substance is stable in soil | |||
| 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 | Stable | Q3 | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | Stable | Q3 | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | Stable | Q3 | - | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | Stable | Q3 | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | - | - |
| Koc | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | - | - | - |
| Kfoc | - | |||
| 1/n | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | - | - | - |
| CT50 (days) | - | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 5110 | R3 Rat | Low | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | - | - |
| (ppm diet) | - | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 10000 | Q3 Danio rerio | Low | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | 1000 | Q3 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) | 440 | Q3 Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata | Low | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Honeybees | Contact acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - |
| Oral acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Unknown mode acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Earthworms - Chronic 14 day NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms - e.g. Collembola | LR50 / EC50 / NOEC / % Effect | - | - | - |
| 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
for silica
General:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class) |
High (class III) | - | - | |
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 5110 | R3 Rat | Low | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | > 5000 | R3 Rabbit | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | 2.2 | A4 Rat | - | |
| Other Mammal toxicity endpoints | - | - | ||
| ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg-1bw day-1) | None allocated | A5 | - | |
| ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg-1bw day-1) | None allocated | A5 | - | |
| AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg-1 bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.3 | A5 as mg/m3 (inhalation) | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | - | - | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | - | - | - | |
| Exposure Limits | [MEL TWA 8 hr (UK) 0.3 mg/m3] | B3 HSE | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | Public may become exposed via their diets but substance is relatively benign by this route | ||
| Occupational | Serious risk to operators and other workers - PPE/PPC required | |||
| European MRLs | Click here for the EU MRL pesticide database | |||
| Drinking Water Standards | - | - | - | |
| Drinking Water MAC (μg l-1) | - | - | - | |
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Mutagen | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | |||
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|||
| Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Skin sensitiser | Eye irritant | Phototoxicant | ||||
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|||
| General human health issues | Dust can cause silicosis and bronchitis May cause sensitization via inhalation |
|||||||
: Yes, known to cause a problem
: No, known not to cause a problem
: Possibly, status not identified
- : No data found
Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| General |
Prevent generation of dust | |||
| CLP classification 2013 | - | |||
| EC Risk Classification |
Carcinogen category 2: R49 Xn - Harmful: R43, R42 |
|||
| EC Safety Classification |
S22, S36, S37, S45, S53 | |||
| WHO Classification | NL | - | Not listed | |
| US EPA Classification (formulation) | III | - | Caution - Slightly toxic | |
| UN Number | - | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
- | |||
| Language | Name |
| English | silica |
| French | silice cristalline |
| German | kristallenes Silikon |
| Danish | siliciumdioxid |
| Italian | silicone cristallino |
| Spanish | silicona cristalina |
| Greek | - |
| Slovenian | - |
| Polish | krystaliczna krzemionka |
| Swedish | Kiseldioxid |
| Hungarian | - |
| Dutch | kristallijn kiezelzuur |
Record last updated: Thursday 31 May 2018
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk