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
 
 
Human health High alert: Neurotoxicant
Warning: Significant data are missing
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A synthetic codine analogue used to control acute and chronic pain of moderate to severe intensity
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1977, launched Germany; 1962, first synthesised
Examples of species treated
Dogs
Chemical structure
Isomerism
Tramadol is a chiral molecule. The technical material is an isomeric mixture of both R- and S-stereoisomers
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
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
No data found
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
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
CNS depressant May depress respiratory function Some incidences of adverse reactions recorded including headache, diarrhoea, vomiting & cardiovascular irregularities
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Will emit toxic fumes when heated to decomposition
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