Glufosinate-ammonium (Ref: HOE 039866)

Glufosinate-ammonium (Ref: HOE 039866)	Last updated: 26/05/2025
(Also known as: phosphinothricin ammonium; AE F039866; HOE 00661)

SUMMARY

Glufosinate-ammonium is a herbicide for control of a wide range of weeds. It is highly soluble in water, volatile and has a low risk of leaching to groundwater. It is non-persistent in soils but may be persistent in aquatic systems. It is moderately toxic to mammals and considered to be a neurotoxin. It shows a moderate to low toxicity to birds, most aquatic organisms, earthworms and honeybees.

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	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Birds chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health High alert: Mammals chronic toxicity: High; Reproduction/development effects; Neurotoxicant

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A herbicide for total vegetation control and to control a wide range of weeds and grasses

Example pests controlled

Annual broadleaved weeds including nightshade, lamb's quarters, ragweed, velvetleaf, wild mustard; Annual grasses including Barnyardgrass, bristly foxtail, witchgrass

Example applications

Oilseed rape; Maize; Potatoes; Soybeans; Non-cropped areas

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

circa 1982, introduced

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

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

Germany/France

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Yes - toxic for reproduction

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

Egypt

Chemical structure

Isomerism

A molecule with 2 chiral centres, glufosinate-ammonium is an isomeric mixture of the D- and L-isomers of the glufosinate ammonium salt. The D-isomer is not biologically active

Chemical formula

C₅H₁₅N₂O₄P

Canonical SMILES

CP(=O)(CCC(C(=O)[O-])N)O.[NH4+]

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

ZBMRKNMTMPPMMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C5H12NO4P.H3N/c1-11(9,10)3-2-4(6)5(7)8;/h4H,2-3,6H2,1H3,(H,7,8)(H,9,10);1H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Herbicide

Substance groups

Organophosphate herbicide

Minimum active substance purity

950 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - None declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Non-selective, contact with some systemic action. Glutamine synthetase inhibitor: accumulates ammonium ions, inhibits photosynthesis.

CAS RN

77182-82-2

EC number

278-636-5

CIPAC number

437

US EPA chemical code

128850

PubChem CID

53597

CLP index number

015-155-00-X

Molecular mass

198.2

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

ammonium (2RS)-2-amino-4-(methylphosphinato)butyric acid

CAS name

2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid monoammonium salt

Other status information

PAN listed Highly Hazardous Chemical

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

Crystalline solid

Related substances & organisms

glufosinate

glufosinate-P

glufosinate-P-ammonium

Formulations

Property

Value

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

Aventis
Bayer CropScience
Certis
Fargro
Hoechst

Example products using this active

Basta
Harvest
Kaspar

Formulation and application details

Often supplied as a soluble or emulsifiable concentrate

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

500000

High

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

250

Acetone

250

Ethyl acetate

5730000

Methanol

250

p-Xylene

Melting point (°C)

216.5

Boiling point (°C)

Decomposes before boiling

Degradation point (°C)

245

Flashpoint (°C)

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

9.77 X 10^-05

Calculated

Log P

-4.01

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Insoluble

Data type

Regulatory data

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.32

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

9.15

Weak acid

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

3.10 X 10^-02

Low volatility

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

4.48 X 10^-09

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 solution: 193nm = 382.02, 291nm = 3.12
Acidic solution: 207.25nm = 57.05, 291nm = 0.31
Basic solution: 216.75nm = 108.67, 291nm = no absorption

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

72.1

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

7.4

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

7.4

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU dossier lab studies DT₅₀ range 6-11 days, DT₉₀ range 19-35 days; Other sources: DT₅₀ 16 days (DW4); 3-10 days (Q3 lab), 7-20 (Q3 field)

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 pH 5 to pH 9

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

Value

300

Persistent

Note

Stable pH 5 to pH 9 at 25 °C

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

24.5

Fast

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

7.2

Moderately fast

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)

Slightly mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

600

Notes and range

General literature: 10-1500 mL g⁻¹; US sources: 600 mL g⁻¹ (DW3)

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

2.3

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

0.93

Notes and range

EU dossier kf range 0.2-3.4, ¹/_n range 0.77-1.0

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

1.03

Calculated

Low leachability

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

Value

8.57 X 10^-03

Calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Low

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)

Low risk

Based on LogP < 3

Low risk

CT₅₀ (days)

No data

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

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

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

3-methyl-phosphinico-propionic acid (Ref: AE-F061517)

Major fraction

0.470

2-methylphosphinico-acetic acid (Ref: AE-F064619)

Major fraction

0.260

glufosinate (Ref: HOE 00661)

Major fraction

Known groundwater metabolites

Metabolite

EC SANCO/221/2000 relevancy

ADI (mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight day⁻¹)

WHO drinking water guidance value (μg L⁻¹ day⁻¹)

3-methyl-phosphinico-propionic acid (Ref: AE-F061517)

Relevant

glufosinate (Ref: HOE 00661)

Not relevant

0.021

126

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

2-hydroxy-4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid

MHB

Rat (Urine)

4-methylphosphinico-butanoic acid

MPB

Rat (Urine)

disodium L-2-acetamido-4-methylphosphinato-butyrate

N-acetyl-glufosinate; NAG

Rat (Urine, Faeces); Plant; Water (Aerobic)

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

416

Mouse

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

> 64

Rat

High

(ppm diet)

> 545

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

6.3

Rabbit Reproductive NOAEL

High

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Coturnix japonica

Low

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

1100 mg kg bw⁻¹ day⁻¹

Coturnix japonica

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

122

Colinus virginianus NOAEL

Moderate

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

> 1000

Eisenia foetida

Low

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

Soil micro-organisms

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

Dose: Field rate

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)

> 345

Low

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

> 600

Low

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)

97% Mortality at dose 2.5 kg ha⁻¹

Chrysoperla carnea Larva

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

100% Mortality at dose 0.6 kg ha⁻¹

Aphidius rhopalosiphi Adult

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

1.42

Typhlodromus pyri Adult

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)

710

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

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

100

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

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

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

668

Daphnia magna

Low

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

Daphnia magna

Low

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

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

7.5

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)

1.47

Lemna gibba

Moderate

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth) - Acute 14 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

46.5

Scenedesmus quadricauda

Low

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

320

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)

416

Mouse

Moderate

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

2000

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

1.26

Rat

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

0.021

Rat as glufosinate

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

0.021

Rat as glufosinate

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.0021

Rat as glufosinate

Dermal penetration studies (%)

7.0-16.0

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Slight risk to bystanders in orchards

Occupational

Risk of exposure acceptable under label recommendations for use for personal protection clothing and equipment

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

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Harmful if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin
Possible kidney, bladder, blood and lungs toxicant

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosive or oxidising
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302, H312, H332, H360DF, H373

WHO Classification

II (Moderately hazardous)

UN Number

Not regulated

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

glufosinate-ammonium

French

glufosinate-ammonium

German

Glufosinat ammonium

Danish

glufosinat-ammonium

Italian

glufosinate-ammonio

Spanish

glufosinato-amonico

Greek

Polish

glufosynat amonowy

Swedish

glufosinatammonium

Hungarian

glufozinat-ammonium

Dutch

glufosinaat-ammonium

Norwegian

Record last updated:	26/05/2025
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