Estriol

Estriol	Last updated: 16/09/2025
(Also known as: trihydroxyestrin; estratriol; trihydroxyoestrin)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A short-acting natural oestrogen used in veterinary medicine

Examples of veterinary uses

Used to treat urinary incontinence in bitches

Examples of species treated

Dogs

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Approved - usually supplied as a prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V)

EU Regulatory approval status

Approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Estriol exhibits stereoisomerism, specifically diastereomerism, due to the presence of multiple chiral centres in its steroidal structure. The molecule contains hydroxyl groups at the C3, C16alpha, and C17beta positions, and the spatial arrangement of these groups around the steroid nucleus determines its biological activity. The naturally occurring form of estriol is the (16alpha,17beta)-estriol, which is the most biologically active isomer. However, inversion at one or more of these chiral centres leads to epiestriol isomers, such as 16beta-estriol or 17alpha-estriol, which differ in their orientation of hydroxyl groups and exhibit altered receptor binding and physiological effects.

Chemical formula

C₁₈H₂₄O₃

Canonical SMILES

CC12CCC3C(C1CC(C2O)O)CCC4=C3C=CC(=C4)O

Isomeric SMILES

C[C@]12CC[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1C[C@H]([C@@H]2O)O)CCC4=C3C=CC(=C4)O

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

PROQIPRRNZUXQM-ZXXIGWHRSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C18H24O3/c1-18-7-6-13-12-5-3-11(19)8-10(12)2-4-14(13)15(18)9-16(20)17(18)21/h3,5,8,13-17,19-21H,2,4,6-7,9H2,1H3/t13-,14-,15+,16-,17+,18+/m1/s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
estriol	-

General status

Veterinary substance type

Hormone therapy, Medicinal drug

Substance groups

Estrogen

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Molecular targets

[Estrogen receptor, Agonist], [Estrogen receptor beta, Agonist]

CAS RN

50-27-1

EC number

200-022-2

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

Therapeutic Class

Genito urinary system & sex hormones: Sex hormones and modulators of the genital system

ATCvet Code

QG03CA04

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

288.38

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(8R,9S,13S,14S,16R,17R)-13-methyl-7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-decahydro-6H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,16,17-triol

CAS name

(16α,17β)-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,16,17-triol

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

White crystalline solid

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1935, first commercial estrogen; 2001, first EU approvals for veterinary estriol; 2012, first approvals USA for estriol

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

MSD Animal Health UK Ltd

Example products using this active

Incurin Tablets

Formulation and application details

Usually provided in tablet form for oral administration

Commercial production

The commercial synthesis of estriol typically begins with estrone or estradiol as the starting material due to their structural similarity. One efficient route involves converting estrone into its methyl ester, which then reacts with isopropenyl acetate in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid to form an enol acetate intermediate. This intermediate is oxidised to an epoxide using perbenzoic acid, followed by reduction with lithium aluminum hydride to yield estriol with high purity. Alternatively, newer methods use bromination, hydrolysis, and hydrogenation steps to avoid epoxidation, offering faster reaction times and better selectivity for the desired stereoisomer.

Impact on climate of production and use

Published GHG data is not available for most pharmaceuticals. However, according to industry, global averages suggest producing 1 kg of a typical active pharmaceutical ingredient can range from 10 to 100 kg CO₂e for small molecule drugs and potentially up to 1000 kg CO₂e for complex biologicals such as vaccines, depending on the drug type, its formulation, complexity of synthesis, solvent recovery, and energy sources used.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

441

Moderate

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

Melting point (°C)

282.0

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

2.82 X 10⁰²

Calculated

Log P

2.45

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.27

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

2.62 X 10^-05

Low volatility

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

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Max @ 280nm

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

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)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (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

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)

> 2000

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)

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

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

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)

> 2000

Rat

Low

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

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

Urinary elimination

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 increase the risk of blood clotting
May cause hypertension, thromboembolic disorders and fluid retention
Substance is linked with increased incidence of breast & uterine cancer

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Reactive with oxidising agents and light sensitive

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

estriol

French

German

Danish

Italian

estriolo

Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	16/09/2025
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