L-carvone (Ref: L 91105D)

L-carvone (Ref: L 91105D)	Last updated: 20/10/2025
(Also known as: p-mentha-6,8-dien-2-one; R-carvone; spearment oil component; (-)-carvone)

SUMMARY

L-carvone is a plant-derived pesticide that is approved for use in many countries. It has a moderate aqueous solubility and is volatile. There is limited data availablity regarding its persistent in soil andwater systems. It has a low mammalian oral toxicity and is a recognised irritant. Ecotoxicity tends to be low to moderate for most species.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A fungicide and plant growth regulator often used as a potato sprouting inhibitor

Examples of veterinary uses

Examples of species treated

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

EU Regulatory approval status

Chemical structure

Isomerism

L-carvone exhibits stereoisomerism, specifically enantiomerism, as it is one of two mirror-image forms of carvone, the other being D-carvone.

Chemical formula

C₁₀H₁₄O

Canonical SMILES

CC1=CCC(CC1=O)C(=C)C

Isomeric SMILES

CC1=CC[C@H](CC1=O)C(=C)C

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

ULDHMXUKGWMISQ-SECBINFHSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C10H14O/c1-7(2)9-5-4-8(3)10(11)6-9/h4,9H,1,5-6H2,2-3H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
L-carvone	-

General status

Veterinary substance type

Metabolite Type

Soil; Groundwater

Substance groups

Plant-derived substance

Minimum active substance purity

>930g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier 2024: None reported

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Inhibits cell growth

Molecular targets

CAS RN

6485-40-1

EC number

229-352-5

CIPAC number

602

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

Therapeutic Class

ATCvet Code

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

150.21

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(R)-5-isopropenyl-2-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one

CAS name

(R)-2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one

Listed (✓) under

UK Poisons List Order 1972	Rotterdam Convention	Montreal Protocol
XNo The Poisons List Order 1972	XNo Rotterdam Convention	XNo Montreal Protocol
Stockholm Convention	OSPAR	EU Water Framework Directive
XNo Stockholm Convention	XNo OSPAR	XNo EU Water Framework Directive

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Forever chemical

Other status information

Physical state

Colourless to pale yellow, translucent liquid at >98 % purity

Related substances & organisms

orange oil

carvone

D-carvone

spearmint oil

Can be a metabolite of:

Parent

Formation medium

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

1107/2009 relevancy

QRD-460 Terpenoid blend

Soil

orange oil

Soil

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

2009, registered in EU

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

Xeda International

Example products using this active

Talent
Xeda Bio
Xeda HM Nat

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied in formulations for hot or cold fogging for indoor use only

Commercial production

L-carvone is produced commercially through either a natural or a synthetic process. It can be extracted from essential oils of plants such as caraway, dill, and spearmint. The oils are obtained through steam distillation, and L-carvone is then isolated using various chemical processes. Alternatively, it can be synthesised chemically from limonene, which is a more abundant and cost-effective starting material. The synthetic process involves several chemical reactions to convert limonene into L-carvone.

Impact on climate of production and use

While no direct CO₂e/kg figure is available for L-carvone based on its production processes emissions are expected to be between 5–20 kg CO₂e/kg product.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C at pH 7 (mg l⁻¹)

Moderate

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

1000000

Xylene

1000000

Heptane

1000000

Ethyl acetate

1000000

Acetone

Melting point (°C)

-43

as Carvone Freezing point

Boiling point (°C)

233

as Carvone

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

as Carvone

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

5.37 X 10⁰²

Calculated

Log P

2.73

Moderate

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

0.957

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

10500

as L-carvone

Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable

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

29.7

Moderately volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Neutral soln: 263nm=9500; 318nm=45.3
Acidic soln: 236nm=9270; 315nm=48.6
Alkaline soln: 237nm=9490; 308nm=69.4

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

57.2

20 °C 90 % saturated solution

Refractive Index

Environmental release

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

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)

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)

2.29

Moderately mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

93.5

Notes and range

EU 2024 dossier K_d range 0.91-6.41 mL g⁻¹, K_oc range 78.2-130.1 mL g⁻¹, Soils=6

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

4.84

Moderately mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

234.1

¹/_n

0.53

Notes and range

EU 2024 dossier K_f range 2.51-9.78 mL g⁻¹, K_foc range 169.2-355.7 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.406-0.655, Soils=5

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low risk

Based on LogP < 3

Low risk

CT₅₀ (days)

Known soil and groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

dihydrocarvonic acid

Animal

carvonic acid

Animal

uroterpenolone

carveol

dihydrocarveol

Animal

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

4900

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

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

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

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

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

> 1000

Expert judgement

Low

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

31.75

Eisenia foetida

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen transformation: No significant adverse effect

Dose: 0.37 mg kg⁻¹ soil 28 days

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

28.87

Folsomia candida

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

7.27

Folsomia candida

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis 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)

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

100

Expert judgement

Moderate

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)

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)

> 11.99

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

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

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

58.2

Danio rerio Embryo

Moderate

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

> 8.6

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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)

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 (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹) (7day ErC₅₀, Semi-static)

25.25

Lemna minor

Low

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹) (72 hr ErC₅₀, Semi-static)

21.46

Desmodesmus subspicatus

Low

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; 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)

Intermediate (class II)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

4900

Rat

Low

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

> 2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.4

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

0.39

Rat SF=200

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

None allocated

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

None allocated

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

0.62 Rabbit, SF=100

Dermal penetration studies (%)

default value

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Negligible for proposed uses

Occupational

PPE/PPC recommended

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Mainly excreted via bile and urine within 72 hrs

Health issues

Specific human health issues (hazard-based)

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

General human health issues

May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
Skin sensitiser
Possible kidney toxicant
Strong antiseptic properties

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosve or oxidising
Flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H304, H317, H361d
Environment: H412

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

L-carvone

French

l-carvone

German

l-Carvon

Danish

l-carvon

Italian

l-carvone

Spanish

l-carvone

Greek

Polish

L-karwon

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	20/10/2025
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