| acephate |
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SUMMARY
Acephate is an organophosphate insecticide that does not have approval for use in the EU. It is highly soluble in water and most organic solvents, and is non-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. It is also a recognised irritant. It is has a moderate to low toxicity to birds, honeybees, earthworms and most aquatic organisms. GENERAL INFORMATION 
for acephate
Description: An organophosphate insecticide used normally as a foliar spray to control chewing and sucking insects
Introduction: circa 1970
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Not approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Italy |
| Date inclusion expires | Expired |
Approved for use (
) or known to be used (
) in the following European countries: 
AT |
BE |
BG |
CY |
CZ |
DE |
DK |
EE |
EL |
ES |
FI |
FR |
HU |
IE |
IT |
LT |
LU |
LV |
MT |
NL |
PL |
PT |
RO |
SE |
SI |
SK |
UK |
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Also registered in: Australia, USA
General status:
| Pesticide type | Insecticide | |
| Substance group | Organophosphate | |
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |
| Mode of action | Broad-spectrum, contact and ingestion systemic action. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. | |
| CAS RN | 30560-19-1 | |
| EC number | 250-241-2 | |
| CIPAC number | 338 | |
| US EPA chemical code | 103301 | |
| Chiral molecule | Chiral, a specific isomer or a derivative of a chiral molecule | |
| Chemical formula | C4H10NO3PS | |
| SMILES | O=C(NP(=O)(OC)SC)C | |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | YASYVMFAVPKPKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C4H10NO3PS/c1-4(6)5-9(7,8-2)10-3/h1-3H3,(H,5,6,7) | |
| Structure diagram/image available? | Yes | |
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 183.17 | |
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | (E)-(O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate) | |
| IUPAC name | (RS)-N-[methoxy(methylthio)phosphinoyl]acetamide | |
| CAS name | O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate | |
| Other status information | Potential groundwater contaminant; Chemical subject to PIC regulations | |
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | 1B | |
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |
| Physical state | Colourless/white solid | |
| Related substances & organisms | ||
Formulations:
| Property |
Value | |||
| Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active |
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| Example products using this active |
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| UK LERAP status | No UK approval for use or outside scope | |||
| Formulation and application details | Usually supplied as a soluble powder or granules. | |||
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
for acephate
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 790000 | W4 | High | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | 151000 | L3 - Acetone | - | |
| 100000 | L3 - Ethanol | - | ||
| 35000 | L3 - Ethyl acetate | - | ||
| 100 | L3 - Hexane | - | ||
| Melting point (oC) | 89 | L3 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | Decomposes before boiling | L3 | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 1.41 X 10-01 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | -0.85 | R3 | Low | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | 1.35 | L3 | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | 8.35 | F4 | - | |
| Note: Weak acid | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 25oC (mPa) | 0.226 | L3 | Non-volatile | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | 5.15 X 10-08 | H4 | Non-volatile | |
| Henry's law constant at 20oC (dimensionless) | 2.15 X 10-11 | Calculated | Non-volatile | |
GUS leaching potential index  |
1.14 | Calculated | Low leachability | |
| SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l-1) for a 1 kg ha-1 or 1 l ha-1 application rate |
Value | 2.54 X 10-03 | Calculated | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Potential for particle bound transport index |
- | Calculated | Low | |
| Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol-1 cm-1 | - | - | - | |
| Surface tension (mN m-1) | - | - | - | |
Degradation:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Soil degradation (days) (aerobic) | DT50 (typical) | 3 | H4 | Non-persistent |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 (field) | 3 | H4 | Non-persistent | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| Note | Best available data | |||
| Aqueous photolysis DT50 (days) at pH 7 | Value | 2 | L3 | Moderately fast |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | 50 | CA3 | Moderately persistent |
| Note | Hydrolysis data applies for pH range 5-7 | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | - | - | - | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | - | - | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | 1.6 | R4 | Moderately mobile |
| Koc | 302 | |||
| Notes and range | Literature data: Kd range 0.54-4.98 mL/g, Koc range 24.4-545 mL/g, Soils = 19 | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | 0.21 | R4 | Mobile |
| Kfoc | 40.3 | |||
| 1/n | 1.81 | |||
| Notes and range | Literature data: Kf range 0.01-0.90 mL/g, Kfoc range 1.9-188 mL/g, 1.n range 1.43-2.08, Soils = 19 | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
Key metabolites:
| Metabolite | Formation medium | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | 91/414 relevancy |
|
| methamidophos (Ref: ENT 27396) | Soil | - | ||
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF | 0.03 | J4 | Low potential |
| CT50 (days) | Not available | - | ||
| Bioaccumulation potential | - | Calculated | Low | |
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 945 | F4 Rat | Moderate | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | 0.25 | L2 Rat | High |
| (ppm diet) | - | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | 350 | F3 Anas platyrhynchos | Moderate | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 110 | F3 Oncorhynchus mykiss | Low | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | 4.7 | F2 Galaxias maculatus, 20 day | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | 67.2 | L3 Daphnia magna | Moderate | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | 43 | L3 Daphnia magna | - | |
| Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 7.3 | F3 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 - Acute 7 day EC50, biomass (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Algae - Acute 72 hour EC50, growth (mg l-1) | 980 | L2 Unknown species | Low | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Honeybees | Contact acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | 1.2 | F3 | Moderate |
| Oral acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Unknown mode acute 48 hour LD50 (μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | > 22974 | L3 | Low | |
| Earthworms - Chronic 14 day NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms - e.g. Collembola | LR50 / EC50 / NOEC / % Effect | - | - | - |
| Other arthropod (1) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | Harmful | Q2 Parasitoids | Harmful | |
| Other arthropod (2) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Soil micro-organisms | - | - | - | |
| Mesocosm study data | NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - |
| NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - | |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
for acephate
General:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 945 | F4 Rat | Moderate | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | > 10000 | L3 Rat | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | 15.0 | L3 Rat | - | |
| Other Mammal toxicity endpoints | - | - | ||
| ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.03 | JMPR 2005 | - | |
| ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.1 | JMPR 2005 | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | - | - | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | List I; List II | - | - | |
| Exposure Limits | - | - | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | Dermal route highest risk Minimal risk of dietary exposure Small risk of exposure in food and water from metabolite methamidophos Source: US EPA |
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| Occupational | Possible exposure via inhalation and dermal contact Source: US EPA |
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| Examples of European MRLs (mg kg-1) | Value | Vegetables: 0.02; Fruit: 0.02; Cereal grains: 0.02 | ||
| Note | Current May 2007. For the EU pesticides database click here |
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| Drinking Water MAC (μg l-1) | - | - | - | |
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Mutagen | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Eye irritant |
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| General human health issues | No further information available | |||||||
: Yes, known to cause a problem
: No, known not to cause a problem
: Possibly, status not identified
- : No data
Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| General |
IMDG Transport Code is 6.1 | |||
| CLP classification 2013 | - | |||
| EC Risk Classification |
Xn - Harmful: R22 | |||
| EC Safety Classification |
S2, S36 | |||
| WHO Classification | II | - | Moderately hazardous | |
| US EPA Classification (formulation) | III | - | Caution - Slightly toxic | |
| UN Number | Active 2783, liquid products usually 3018 | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
- | |||
| Language | Name |
| English | acephate |
| French | acéphate |
| German | Acephat |
| Danish | acephat |
| Italian | acefate |
| Spanish | acefato |
| Greek | - |
| Slovenian | acefat |
| Polish | acefat |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | acefat |
| Dutch | - |
Record last updated: Wednesday 14 January 2015
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk