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Terbufos (Ref: AC 92100)
Last updated: 22/02/2024
(Also known as: sebuphos; terbuphos)

SUMMARY
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
High alert:
Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Earthworms acute ecotoxicity: High
Human health
High alert:
Mammals acute toxicity: High; Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An insecticide and nematicide used to control soil and other pests
Example pests controlled
Wireworms; Maggots; Rootworm larvae; White grubs; Black maize beetles; Nematodes; Aphids
Example applications
Corn; Sugarbeet; Sorghum; Sunflower; Citrus; Potatoes; Peanuts
Efficacy & activity
-
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1974, first registered US
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
Not applicable
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires
Expired
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)
-
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
C₉H₂₁O₂PS₃
Canonical SMILES
CCOP(=S)(OCC)SCSC(C)(C)C
Isomeric SMILES
-
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
XLNZEKHULJKQBA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C9H21O2PS3/c1-6-10-12(13,11-7-2)15-8-14-9(3,4)5/h6-8H2,1-5H3
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes
General status
Pesticide type
Insecticide, Nematicide
Substance groups
Organophosphate insecticide; Organophosphate nematicide; Organothiophosphate insecticide; Organothiophosphate nematicide
Minimum active substance purity
-
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
Systemic. Cholinesterase inhibitor.
CAS RN
13071-79-9
EC number
235-963-8
CIPAC number
459
US EPA chemical code
105001
PubChem CID
25670
CLP index number
015-139-00-2
Molecular mass
288.4
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
S-[(tert-butylsulfanyl)methyl] O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate
IUPAC name
S-tert-butylthiomethyl O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate
CAS name
S-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)thio]methyl] O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate
Other status information
Severe Marine Pollutant; Chemical subject to PIC regulations; Found infrequently in drinkwater supplies
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
Diabrotica undecimpunctata, Schizaphis graminum
Physical state
Pale yellow liquid
Formulations
Property
Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
  • Amvac
  • BASF
  • American Cyanamid
Example products using this active
  • Counter
  • Contraven
  • Aragran
Formulation and application details
Usually formulated as granules
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
4.5
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
4 = Verified data
Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
300000
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Acetone
-
Melting point (°C)
-29.2
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)
88
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
(open cup)
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
3.24 X 1004 Calculated -
Log P
4.51
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here )
4 = Verified data
High
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
- - -
Data type
- - -
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.11
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
- - -
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
34.6
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here )
4 = Verified data
Highly volatile
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
2.70
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available.
4 = Verified data
Moderately volatile
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)
8
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
5
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available.
4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
12
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available.
4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₉₀ (field)
- - -
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
- - -
Note
Best available data
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
4.5
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
4 = Verified data
Moderately fast
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
6.5
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
Note
Not sensitive to pH
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
-
G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Slightly mobile
Koc
500
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf
24.4
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications
3 = Unverified data of known source
Slightly mobile
Kfoc
700
1/n
1.09
Notes and range
Soil characteristics - New Zealand Tokomaru soil with OC 3.2%
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
1.25 Calculated Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
2.01 X 10-02 Calculated -
Note
-
Potential for particle bound transport index
Low Calculated -
Potential for loss via drain flow
Slightly mobile Calculated -
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
286
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
Threshold for concern
CT₅₀ (days)
Not available -
Known soil metabolites
Metabolite
Major/Minor fraction
Estimated maximum occurrence fraction
Notes
terbufos sulfoxide
- - -
terbufos sulfone
- - -
terbufos oxon sulfoxide
Minor fraction 0.050 -
Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites
Metabolite name and reference
Aliases
Formation medium / Rate
Estimated maximum occurrence fraction
Metabolising enzymes
terbufos sulfoxide - Plant; Animal - -
terbufos sulfone - Plant; Animal - -
terbufos oxon sulfone - Plant - -
terbufos oxon - Animal - -
O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate - Rats (Urine) - -
diethyl phosphate - Rats (Urine) - -
O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate - Rats (Urine) - -
terbufos oxon sulfoxide - Plant; Animal - -
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
1.3
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here )
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)
> 185
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Anas platyrhynchos
Moderate
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
- - -
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
4
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
High
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)
4.1
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
Moderate
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
4.1
K3 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
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
- - -
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)
- - -
Aquatic ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
> 0.004
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)
0.0006
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators
3 = Unverified data of known source
Oncorhynchus mykiss growth
High
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.00031
K3 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
High
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
> 0.0001
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
Ceriodaphnia dubia
High
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.00022
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
High
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)
- - -
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
1.4
K3 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Unknown species
Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
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)
1.3
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here )
4 = Verified data
Rat
High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
1.0
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rabbit
-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.0061
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)
0.0006
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
-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
0.002
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
-
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
-
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
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
;
E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source)
3 = Negative
No data found
Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant
No data found
Yes, known to cause a problem
Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser
No data found
Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant Phototoxicant  
Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found  
General human health issues
Highly toxic
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
terbufos
French
terbuphos
German
Terbufos
Danish
terbufos
Italian
terbufos
Spanish
terbufos
Greek
terbufos
Polish
terbufos
Swedish
-
Hungarian
-
Dutch
terbufos
Norwegian
-

Record last updated: 22/02/2024
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