Acephate
Last updated: 13/01/2023
(Also known as: orthene)
Acephate is an organophosphate insecticide that is used to control sucking and chewing pests. It is highly soluble in water and most organic solvents, and is volatile. It is not expected to leach to groundwater. Whilst it is mobile, it tends not to be persistence in soil or aquatic systems. It is moderately toxic to mammals and has a low potential for bioaccumulation. Acephate is also a recognised irritant. It is has a moderate to low toxicity to birds, honeybees, earthworms and most aquatic organisms.
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
An organophosphate insecticide used normally as a foliar spray to control chewing and sucking insects
Aphids; Leaf miners; Lepidopterous larvae; Sawflies; Thrips, Ants
Fruit; Vegetables; Potatoes; Sugarbeet; Vines; Rice; Hops; Ornamentals; Greenhouse crops including peppers, cucumbers
-
Current
circa 1970
Not approved
Expired
No UK approval for use
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
Not approved
Italy
Expired
Not applicable
Yes
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chiral, existing in the S- and R-forms
C₄H₁₀NO₃PS
CC(=O)NP(=O)(OC)SC
No data
YASYVMFAVPKPKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C4H10NO3PS/c1-4(6)5-9(7,8-2)10-3/h1-3H3,(H,5,6,7)
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name
Relationship
Link
acephate
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Insecticide
Organophosphate insecticide; Phosphoramidothioate insecticide
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-
Synthetic
Broad-spectrum, contact and ingestion systemic action. Weak acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor.
30560-19-1
250-241-2
338
103301
1982
015-079-00-7
183.17
(E)-(O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate)
(RS)-N-[methoxy(methylthio)phosphinoyl]acetamide
O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate
Potential groundwater contaminant; Chemical subject to PIC regulations
-
Not applicable
Not applicable
1B
Not applicable
Adoxophyes orana ,Aphis gossypii , Myzus persicae , Phorodon humuli , Trialeurodes vaporariorum , Lygus lineolaris , plus others
Colourless/white solid
Cheminova King Tech Corp United Phorsporus Valent Chevron
Tornado Ortril Cekucefate Sunphate Orthene Ortran Acephate Acephate 50 Fire Ant Insecticide
Usually supplied as a soluble powder or granules.
790000
W4 W = French database provided by ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal 4 = Verified data
High
151000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Acetone
-
100000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Ethanol
-
35000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Ethyl acetate
-
100
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Hexane
-
89
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Decomposes before boiling
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.41 X 10-01
Calculated
-
-0.85
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.35
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
8.35
-
Weak acid
0.226
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low volatility
5.15 X 10-08
Non-volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
Non-persistent
-
-
-
3
Non-persistent
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Best available data
4.8
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.7-8.5 days, 8 field & undercover grown crops, various matrices, n=11
5.8
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Published literature RL₅₀ range 1.0-12.4 days, 12 field & undercover grown crops, various matrices, n=19
2
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderately fast
-
50
Moderately persistent
Hydrolysis data applies for pH range 5-7
-
-
-
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
1.6
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Moderately mobile
302
Literature data: Kd range 0.54-4.98 mL g⁻¹, Koc range 24.4-545 mL g⁻¹, Soils = 19
0.21
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Mobile
40.3
1.81
Literature data: Kf range 0.01-0.90 mL g⁻¹, Kfoc range 1.9-188 mL g⁻¹, 1.n range 1.43-2.08, Soils = 19
-
1.14
Calculated
Low leachability
2.54 X 10-03
Calculated
-
-
Low
Calculated
-
Moderately mobile
Calculated
-
0.03
Low potential
Not available
-
Known groundwater metabolites
None
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
945
Rat
Moderate
0.25
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Rat
High
-
-
-
-
-
350
Anas platyrhynchos
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
> 22974
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.78
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Apis mellifera
Moderate
> 0.23
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Apis mellifera
High
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.99
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Bombus terrestris 72 hr
Moderate
-
7.37
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Bombus terrestris 72 hr
Moderate
Literature LD₅₀ varies 3.93-135.5 µg bee⁻¹ depending on test duration 24-72 hrs
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Harmful
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Parasitic wasp
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
110
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Low
4.7
Galaxias maculatus 20 day
Moderate
67.2
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
Moderate
43
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
Low
7.3
Americamysis bahia
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
980
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Unknown species
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
High (class III)
-
-
945
Rat
Moderate
10000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
15.0
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
-
-
-
0.03
JMPR 2005
-
0.1
JMPR 2005
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
List I; List II
-
-
Dermal route highest risk Minimal risk of dietary exposure Small risk of exposure in food and water from metabolite methamidophos Source: US EPA
Possible exposure via inhalation and dermal contact Source: US EPA
EU MRL pesticide database 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carcinogen
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
; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
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
?Possibly, status not identified
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
No data found
No data found
 
USEPA - possible human carcinogen Endocrine issues - Disruption of hormone expression in the hypothalamus
IMDG Transport Code is 6.1
Health: H302
II (Moderately hazardous)
Active 2783, liquid products usually 3018
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acephate
acéphate
Acephat
acephat
acefate
acefato
-
acefat
-
acefat
-
Record last updated:
13/01/2023
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