Tetracycline

Tetracycline	Last updated: 31/08/2023
(Also known as: omegamycin ; abramycin ; anhydrotetracycline)

Data alerts

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
Environmental fate Moderate alert: Potential for particle bound transport: Medium Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health High alert: Genotoxic; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

Broad spectrum antibiotic compound synthesised or derived from certain microorganisms of the genus Streptomyces used in veterinary products and for aquaculture. May be used as a feed additive.

Availability status

Introduction & key dates

Examples of species treated

Pigs, Chickens

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Isomeric

Chemical formula

C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈

Canonical SMILES

CC1(C2CC3C(C(=O)C(=C(C3(C(=O)C2=C(C4=C1C=CC=C4O)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=C1C=CC=C4O)O)O)O)C(=O)N)N(C)C)O

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

OFVLGDICTFRJMM-WESIUVDSSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C22H24N2O8/c1-21(31)8-5-4-6-11(25)12(8)16(26)13-9(21)7-10-15(24(2)3)17(27)14(20(23)30)19(29)22(10,32)18(13)28/h4-6,9-10,15,25-26,29,31-32H,7H2,1-3H3,(H2,23,30)/t9-,10-,15-,21+,22-/m0/s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Veterinary substance type

Antimicrobial, Feed additive

Substance groups

Tetracycline

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Protein synthesis inhibitor

Molecular targets

[30S ribosomal protein S7, antagonist], [30S ribosomal protein S14, antagonist], [30S ribosomal protein S3, antagonist], [30S ribosomal protein S8, antagonist], [30S ribosomal protein S19, antagonist], [16S rRNA, anatogonist], [Major prion protein, antagonist]

CAS RN

60-54-8

EC number

200-481-9

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

54675776

ATCvet Code

QJ01AA07;QJ51AA07; QD06AA04; QG01AA90; QG51AA02; QS01AA09; QS02AA08; QS03AA02

Therapeutic Class

Antiinfectants for systemic use; Dermatologicals; Genito urinary system & sex hormones; Sensory organs

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Allowed substance (Table 1: All food producing species)

Molecular mass

444.4

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(4S,4αS,5αS,6S,12αR)-4-(dimethylamino)-1,6,10,11,12α-pentahydroxy-6-methyl-3,12-dioxo-4,4α,5,5aα-tetrahydrotetracene-2-carboxamide

CAS name

6-methyl-1,11-dioxy-2-naphthacenecarboxamide

Other status information

PAN Bad Actor chemical, Possible groundwater contaminant

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Yellow crystalline solid

Formulations

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Authorisation Route

UK Legal Class

Example products using this active

Tetsol 800 80% Powder for Oral Solution

Novartis Animal health

UK National authorisation

Prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V)

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

1700

High

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

Ethanol

Melting point (°C)

172.5

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

5.01 X 10^-02

Calculated

Log P

-1.3

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

3.3

pKa(2)=7.8; pKa(3)=9.6

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

4.11 X 10^-18

Low volatility

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

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

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

Moderately persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

4.5

Aerated pig manure DT₅₀ 9days non-aerated

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

0.1

Fast

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d

Non-mobile

K_oc

40000

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f

K_foc

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

-0.89

Calculated

Low leachability

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

807

Rat

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

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

Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

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

29.4

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (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 - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

1.0

Lemna gibba

Moderate

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

2.2

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Moderate

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

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)

807

Rat

Moderate

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

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 310 mg kg⁻¹

rat

Intravenous LD₅₀ = 129 mg kg⁻¹

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

Excreted unchanged in urine and to a lesser extent, in bile. Also identified in milk.

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

May cause produce nausea, abdominal pain and burning and vomiting
May cause renal dysfunction or failure
Acts as co-carcinogen with UV radiation and increases the risk of skin cancer

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

tetracycline

French

tetracycline

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

tetraciclina

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	31/08/2023
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