(Also known as: benosan; kribenomy; D-1991; BBC; BNM)
SUMMARY
Benomyl is a foliar fungicide used to control a broad range of fungal infections. It has a low aqueous solubility, is volatile, is slightly mobile and, based on its chemical properties, is not expected to leach to groundwater. It is generally not persistent in soil systems but may persist in some water systems under certain conditions. Benomyl has a low mammalian toxicity with a low potential for bioaccumulation. It is also reported to have harmful effects on human development/fertility. It is moderately toxic to birds, honeybees, earthworms and most aquatic organisms
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: Potential for particle bound transport: High
Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Endocrine distrupter; Reproduction/development effects
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A broad-spectrum foliar fungicide used to control a wide range of Ascomycetes and Fungi Imperfecti in a wide range of crops
Example pests controlled
Fruit spot; Powdery mildew; Scab; Post-harvest decay; Blosson end rot; Blosson blight; Brown rot; Collar rot; Phoma leaf blotch; Black spot; Corm rot; Loose smut; Sclerotina rot
Example applications
Field crops; Nuts; Muschrooms; Ornamentals; Turf; Apples & pears; Peaches; Curcubits; Peppers; Peas; Grapes
Efficacy & activity
-
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1968, Introduced
UK regulatory status
UK COPR regulatory status
Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires
Not applicable
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
Germany
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires
Not applicable
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)
-
Listed in EU database
Yes
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States
Systemic with protectant and eradicant activity. Also has ovicidal activity against mites. Inhibition of mitosis and cell division (Beta-tubulin assembly in mitosis)
Chemical subject to PIC regulations (some formulations); Marine Pollutant; PAN Bad Chemical
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)
1
Examples of recorded resistance
-
Physical state
Tan coloured crystals
Formulations
Property
Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
DuPont
Dongbu Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd.
King Tech
Example products using this active
Benlate
Tersan 1991
Benex
Benefit
Comply
Agrocut
Benosan
Agway Rose And Garden Disease Control
Alco Systemic Fungicide
Formulation and application details
Usually supplied as an oil dispersible product or as a wettable powder.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
2
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
94000
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Chloroform
-
18000
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Acetone
-
10000
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Xylene
-
4000
B4 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Ethanol
-
Melting point (°C)
Decomposes before melting
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
Decomposes before boiling
V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Degradation point (°C)
140
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
2.51 X 1001
Calculated
-
Log P
1.4
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
Low
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
-
-
-
Data type
-
-
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
-
-
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
4.48
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database (click here ) 4 = Verified data
-
Weak acid
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
0.005
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
4.00 X 10-04
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-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)
67.0
DW4 DW = Don Wauchope personal database for Pka data: Wauchope, R. D. and Edwards, J. Dissociation constants for pesticide active ingredients: a database and comparison with predicted values. MS in preparation 4 = Verified data
Moderately persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
0.8
H2 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database (click here ) 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
Other sources: Very variable data DT₅₀ 0.1-100 days, more usually 3-12 months
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix
Value
6.1
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Note
Apple leaves, n=1
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix
Value
1.7
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 1.6-1.8 days, 3 undercover grown crops, various matrices, n=3
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
Stable
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Stable
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
0.8
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
-
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Slightly mobile
Koc
1900
Notes and range
Best available data
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
-0.07
Calculated
Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
9.09 X 10-05
Calculated
-
Note
-
Potential for particle bound transport index
High
Calculated
-
Potential for loss via drain flow
Slightly mobile
Calculated
-
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
27
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact
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
Eliminated in the faeces (20-45%) and the urine (40-70%).
G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
?Possibly, status not identified
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
;
E1 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 1 = Positive
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
General human health issues
May cause eye defects in new borns - anophthalmia May cause contact dermatitis and may be a skin sensitiser Endocrine issues - Increase of estrogen production and aromatase activity
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
Environmental fate
