Chlortetracycline	Last updated: 29/01/2025
(Also known as: aureomycin ; biomycin )

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	Broad spectrum antibiotic and antimicrobial substance isolated from the microorganism (treptomyces aureofaciens) used in veterinary products and for aquaculture. Usually formulated as the hydrochloride salt.
Availability status	Current
Introduction & key dates	1945, first discovered
Examples of veterinary uses	Mainly used for the prevention of infections of superficial traumatic or surgical wounds
Examples of species treated	Agricultural livestock including: Poultry, Pigs, Cattle and Fish

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)	Approved
EU Regulatory approval status	Approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism	Isomeric
Chemical formula	C₂₂H₂₃ClN₂O₈
Canonical SMILES	CC1(C2CC3C(C(=O)C(=C(C3(C(=O)C2=C(C4=C(C=CC(=C41)Cl)O)O)O)O)C(=O)N)N(C)C)O
Isomeric SMILES	C[C@@]1([C@H]2C[C@H]3[C@@H](C(=O)C(=C([C@]3(C(=O)C2=C(C4=C(C=CC(=C41)Cl)O)O)O)O)C(=O)N)N(C)C)O
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	DHPRQBPJLMKORJ-XRNKAMNCSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C22H23ClN2O8/c1-21(32)7-6-8-15(25(2)3)17(28)13(20(24)31)19(30)22(8,33)18(29)11(7)16(27)12-10(26)5-4-9(23)14(12)21/h4-5,7-8,15,26-27,30,32-33H,6H2,1-3H3,(H2,24,31)/t7-,8-,15-,21-,22-/m0/s1
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

General status

Veterinary substance type	Bactericide, Fungicide, Antimicrobial, Medicated feed additive
Other bioactivity & uses	Wood preservative, Antimicrobial, Biocide
Substance groups	Amide pesticide; Tetracycline compound
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Natural
Mode of action	Protein synthesis inhibitor
Molecular targets	[16S ribosomal RNA, Inhibitor], [30S ribosomal proteins, Inhibitor], [ADP-ribosylation factor 1, Inhibitor], [Catalase, Inhibitor], [Ephrin type-B receptor 1, Inhibitor], [Pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, Inhibitor], [Protein-arginine deiminase type-4, Inhibitor]
CAS RN	57-62-5
EC number	200-341-7
CIPAC number	-
US EPA chemical code	006301
PubChem CID	54675777
Therapeutic Class	Dermatologicals: Antibiotics & chemotherapeutics for dermatological use
ATCvet Code	QD06AA52
Controlled Drug?	No
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification	Allowed substance (Table 1: All food producing species)
Molecular mass	478.88
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	-
IUPAC name	(4S,4aS,5aS,6S,12aR)-7-chloro-4-(dimethylamino)-1,6,10,11,12a-pentahydroxy-6-methyl-3,12-dioxo-4,4a,5,5a-tetrahydrotetracene-2-carboxamide
CAS name	7-chlorotetracycline
Other status information	Possible groundwater contaminant
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	-
Physical state	White crystalline solid
Related substances & organisms	chlortetracycline hydrochloride chlortetracycline calcium complex

Formulations

Property	Product	Manufacturer	Authorisation Route	Legal Class (GB/UK)
Example products (past and present) using this active	-	-	-	-
Formulation and application details	Available in a variety of formulations as the hydrochlroide salt including medicated premix feed, cutaneous sprays, ointments, cutaneous sprays and powders for oral administration

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		630	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	Moderate
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Melting point (°C)		168.5	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		-	-	-
Degradation point (°C)		-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)		-	-	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	2.40 X 10-01	Calculated	-
	Log P	-0.62	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	Low
Fat solubility of residues	Solubility	-	-	-
	Data type	-	-	-
Density (g ml⁻¹)		-	-	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		4.5	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	-
		-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		2.09 X 10-23	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		4.8 X 10-22	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	Non-volatile
Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost	From plant surface	-	-	-
	From soil surface	-	-	-
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹		-	-	-
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)		-	-	-
Refractive Index		-	-	-
Environmental release		Substance may enter the environment via the faeces of treated animals or by leaching from spilt medicated feed. Identified in pig manure at high concentrations implying manure implying a major release route

Degradation

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)	DT₅₀ (typical)	30	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source	Moderately persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	Note	General literature DT₅₀ range >30 days (R3)
Manure DT₅₀ (days)		44% lost after 30 days	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Soil and poultry manure at 30°C decreases with decreasing temp. DT₅₀ range 0.1-56 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	Kd (mL g⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Koc (mL g⁻¹)	-
	Notes and range	-
Freundlich	Kf (mL g⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
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	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Based on LogP < 3	Low risk
	CT₅₀ (days)	-		-

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 1500	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Mouse	Moderate
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)		-	-	-
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)		-	-	-
Soil micro-organisms		-	-	-
Collembola	Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
Non-target plants		-	-	-
		-	-	-
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)	-	-	-
	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)		> 0.89	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Unknown species	Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		128	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	Low
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, growth) - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)		1.62	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Lemna gibba	Moderate
Aquatic plants (rooted, growth) - Acute 14 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)		3.1	R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata	Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Mesocosm study data	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-
	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)		> 1500	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Mouse	Moderate
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		-	-	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints		Intraperitoneal LDLo = 335 mg kg⁻¹	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
		Intravenous LD₅₀ = 118 mg kg⁻¹	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
Dermal penetration studies (%)		-	-	-
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464		-	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	-
	Occupational	-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate		Mainly eliminated in the faeces	R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor No data found 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 ✓Yes, known to cause a problem XNo, known not to cause a problem No data found Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser No data found No data found No data found Eye irritant Phototoxicant   No data found No data found
General human health issues		No further information available

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	No information available
CLP classification 2013	-
WHO Classification	Not listed (Not listed)
UN Number	-
Waste disposal & packaging	-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	chlortetracycline
French	chlortetracycline
German	-
Danish	-
Italian	-
Spanish	clortetraciclina
Greek	-
Polish	-
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	-
Norwegian	-

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Record last updated:	29/01/2025
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