Beta-cypermethrin (Ref: OMS 3068)

Beta-cypermethrin (Ref: OMS 3068)	Last updated: 11/04/2025
(Also known as: beta-cipermetrin ; cypermethrinbeta)

SUMMARY

A pyrethroid broad-spectrum insecticide. It has a low aqueous solubility, in relatively volatile and, based on its chemical properties, is not expected to leach to groundwater. It is non-persistent in soil systems. It is highly toxic to mammals and there is some concern regarding its ability to bioconcentrate. It is moderately toxic to birds, earthworms and highly toxic to honeybees and most aquatic species except for algae where there is a reduced risk.

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: Potential for particle bound transport: Medium	Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute oral ecotoxicity: High	Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Endocrine disrupter

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A broad-spectrum insecticide used to control common pests in crops, public health and veterinary situations.

Example pests controlled

Aphids; Cockroaches; Fleas; Ticks; Flies; Mosquitoes

Example applications

Oilseed rape; Wheat; Barley; Maize; Livestock; Public health situations

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1989, introduced

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

United Kingdom

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

Cypermethrin is a chiral molecule and consists of eight isomers, four cis and four trans. Beta -cypermethirn is a reaction mixture of two enantiomeric forms.

Chemical formula

C₂₂H₁₉Cl₂NO₃

Canonical SMILES

CC1(C(C1C(=O)OC(C#N)C2=CC(=CC=C2)OC3=CC=CC=C3)C=C(Cl)Cl)C

Isomeric SMILES

CC1([C@H]([C@H]1C(=O)O[C@H](C#N)C2=CC(=CC=C2)OC3=CC=CC=C3)C=C(Cl)Cl)C

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

KAATUXNTWXVJKI-NSHGMRRFSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C22H19Cl2NO3/c1-22(2)17(12-19(23)24)20(22)21(26)28-18(13-25)14-7-6-10-16(11-14)27-15-8-4-3-5-9-15/h3-12,17-18,20H,1-2H3/t17-,18+,20-/m0/s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
beta-cypermethrin	-

General status

Pesticide type

Insecticide; Veterinary substance

Substance groups

Pyrethroid ester insecticide

Minimum active substance purity

>960mg kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier: none declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Non-systemic with contact and stomach action. Sodium channel modulator.

CAS RN

65731-84-2

Alternative/old CAS RN

1224510-29-5

EC number

265-898-0

CIPAC number

632

US EPA chemical code

109702

PubChem CID

93357

CLP index number

No data found

Molecular mass

416.3

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

reaction mixture comprising the enantiomeric pair rac-(R)-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl (1S,3S)-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate in ratio approximately 2:3 with the enantiomeric pair rac-(R)-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl (1S,3R)-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate

IUPAC name

(R)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (1S,3S)-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and (S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (1R,3R)-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate

CAS name

cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

UK Environment Agency non-statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life in freshwater and saltwater annual average 0.0002 µg l⁻¹, max acceptable conc 0.002 µg l⁻¹
UK statutory standard for water quality: ‘Good’ for fresh, transitional & saltwater: 0.1 ng l⁻¹ as annual mean conc, 0.4 ng l⁻¹ 95th percentile

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

Musca domestica, Triatoma infestans

Physical state

White powder

Related substances & organisms

cypermethrin

alpha-cypermethrin

theta-cypermethrin

zeta-cypermethrin

Formulations

Property

Value

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

Bonide Products
Syngenta
NuFarm

Example products using this active

Cymbush 3E Insecticide
Siperin
Barricade

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as an emulsifiable concentrate

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

0.9

Low

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

14000

n-Heptane

45000

Methanol

26000

Octanol

1000000

Ethyl acetate

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

253

Decomposes

Degradation point (°C)

253

Flashpoint (°C)

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

6.31 X 10⁰⁵

Calculated

Log P

5.8

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Soluble

Data type

Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies, residues measured in fat of lactating cow

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.34

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

n/d

No dissociation

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

0.02

Low volatility

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

9.1 X 10^-08

Non-volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Acidic: 204nm=44881, 277nm=714
Neutral: 203nm-61241
Basic: 208nm=39764, 310nm=2756

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

27.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

27.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU dossier DT₅₀ lab studies range 15.2-43.4 days days ; DT₉₀ range 257-734 days

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

4.9

Note

Published literature RL₅₀ range 3.7-6.0 days, 2 field crops, various matrices, n=2

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

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

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

22.2

Fast

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

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)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

1369

Non-mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

114676

¹/_n

1.001

Notes and range

EU dossier K_f range 889-1622 mL g⁻¹, K_foc range 41167-249607 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.946-1.072, Soils=4

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

-1.52

Calculated

Low leachability

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

Value

5.35 X 10^-03

Calculated

Note

Estimated concentrations of chemicals with Koc values greater than 9995 ml g⁻¹ are beyond the scope of the regression data used in SCI-GROW development. If there are concerns for such chemicals, a higher tier groundwater exposure assessment should be considered, regardless of the concentration returned by SCI-GROW

Potential for particle bound transport index

Medium

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Non-mobile

Calculated

Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk

0.499

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)

846

Threshold for concern

CT₅₀ (days)

2.0

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

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

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-carboxylate

Major fraction

0.271

alpha-carbamoyl-3-phenoxybenzyl-alcohol

Photolysis

3-phenoxybenzaldehyde

Photolysis

cyperamide

Photolysis

3-phenoxybenzoic acid

Major fraction

0.171

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-carboxylate

CPA

Surface water; Sediment

3-phenoxybenzoic acid

Surface water (Photolysis)

3-phenoxybenzoic acid

PBA

Mammal; Surface water; Sediment

2-OH-PBAcid

PBAlcohol

N-(3-phenoxybenzoyl)glycerine

N-(3-phenoxybenzoyl)glutamic acid

Animal

3-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)benzoic acid O-sulfate

taurine-PBA

Mouse

Phenol

Surface water (Photolysis)

cyperamide

Surface water

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

93.0

Rat

High

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

Rat

(ppm diet)

> 250

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

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Colinus virginianus

Low

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

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

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

> 150

Eisenia foetida corr

Moderate

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

0.243

Eisenia foetida corr

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

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

Dose: 0.67 mg kg⁻¹ 28 Day

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

> 35.0

Six tested species
Vegetative vigour, EC₅₀
as g ha⁻¹

> 35.0

Six tested species
Seedling emergence, EC₅₀
as g ha⁻¹

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

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

0.014

Apis mellifera

High

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

0.05

Apis mellifera

High

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)

33.8% Mortality at dose 3.74 g ha⁻¹

Chrysoperla carnea

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

100% Mortality at dose 12.5 g ha⁻¹

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

100% Mortality at dose 12.5 g ha⁻¹

Typhlodromus pyri

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)

0.00039

Oncorhynchus mykiss

High

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

0.00037

Pimephales promelas 34 day

High

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

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

0.00042

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)

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

0.0000059

Mysidopsis 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)

0.00006

Chironomus riparius

High

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)

> 0.053

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Moderate

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

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)

93.0

Rat

High

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

5000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

1.06

Rat

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

0.0016

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

0.0016

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

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

0.0008

Dermal penetration studies (%)

5-7

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Risk from vapour exposure risk identified for bystanders in the vicinity

Occupational

PPE/PPC required to reduce exposure risk

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 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

No data found

General human health issues

Risk of serious damage to the eye

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

IMDG Transport Hazard Class 9
Not explosive or oxidising
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H301, H318, H332, H335
Environment: H410

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

UN3077

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

beta-cypermethrin

French

betacypermethrine

German

beta-Cypermethrin

Danish

betacypermethrin

Italian

beta-cipermetrina

Spanish

beta-cipermetrina

Greek

Polish

beta-cypermetryna

Swedish

Hungarian

beta-cypermethrin

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	11/04/2025
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