Benzyl benzoate
Last updated: 22/01/2023
(Also known as: benzoic acid phenylmethyl ester; benzyl phenylformate; benzoic acid benzyl ester; benzylbenzenecarboxylate; benzylis benzoas)
Benzyl benzoate is used mainly as a non-agricultural pesticide although it also has other manufacuring application. It has a low aqueous solubility and is moderately volatile. Little information is available regarding its environmental fate. Benzyl benzoate is moderately toxic to birds and fish. It has a low oral mammalian toxicity and a neurotoxin as well as being a recognised irritant.
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
 
Most common use is for the treatment of "Sweet Itch" in horses. Is also sometiems used to treat mites responsible for causing scabies.
Current
-
Horses
None
C₁₄H₁₂O₂
C1=CC=C(C=C1)COC(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2
-
SESFRYSPDFLNCH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C14H12O2/c15-14(13-9-5-2-6-10-13)16-11-12-7-3-1-4-8-12/h1-10H,11H2
Yes
Antiparasitic
Solvent
Bridged diphenyl insecticide
-
-
Synthetic
Attacks the nervous system of mites
-
120-51-4
204-402-9
None allocated
009501
2345
607-085-00-9
QP53AX11
Antiparasitic products, insecticides & repellents: Ecoparasiticides, insecticides & repellents
No
Allowed substance (Table 1: All food producing species)
212.25
benzyl benzoate
benzyl benzoate
phenylmethyl benzoate
-
-
Colourless to pale yellow oily liquid with pleasant aromatic odour
Killitch 25% w/v cutaneous emulsion
Carr Day and Martin Ltd
UK National authorisation
Authorised veterinary medicine for general sale (AVM - GSL)
Savlon Veterinary Antiseptic concentrate
Schering-Plough Ltd
No UK authorisation for use
Not applicable
Bensyleasi
Easivet
No UK authorisation for use
Not applicable
Veterinary formulations are usually emulsions for topical application. Non-agricultural formulations include foams and powders.
15.4
at 25 °C
Low
Miscible
Ether
-
Miscible
Ethanol
-
Miscible
Methanol
-
Miscible
Acetone
-
18
-
323
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
-
-
-
158
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
(closed cup)
-
9.33 X 1003
Calculated
-
3.97
High
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.12
-
-
-
-
-
29.86
Highly volatile
0.284
Moderately volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.5681
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Known soil and groundwater metabolites
None
benzoic acid
-
Human
-
-
benzyl alcohol
-
Human
-
-
hippuric acid
-
Human
-
-
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
> 2800
Rat
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2000
Colinus virginianus
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.6
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
Unknown species
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
Low (class I)
-
-
> 2800
Rat
Low
2000
Rat
-
-
-
-
Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ > 500 mg kg⁻¹
Mouse
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No unacceptable risks identified
May be absorbed through the skin
Metabolised and excreted mainly in the urine
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Carcinogen
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; 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
; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data
No data found
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
No data found
XNo, known not to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
 
May cause nausea and vomiting In large doses may cause skin blistering, crusting & scaling
Combustible IMDG Transport Code is usually 9 Incompatible with alkalis and oxidising agents
-
NL (Not listed)
3082
Packaging Group III (minor danger)
benzyl benzoate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Record last updated:
22/01/2023
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