Fenvalerate is a pyrethroid, non-systemic acaricide. It has a low aqueous solubility and has a low volatility. Evidence suggests it is moderately persistent in both soil and water systems. Based on its physico-chemical properties it is not expected to leach to groundwater. It is highly toxic to most aquatic organisms and to bees. It has a moderate mammalian oral toxicity and is a recognised irritant.
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 High alert: Potential for particle bound transport: High
Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Endocrine disrupter
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A pyrethroid insecticide that was used to control fexternal parasites such as lies and ticks on livestock and in stables
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1976
Examples of species treated
Cattle, Horses, Pigs, Dogs
Chemical structure
Isomerism
A molecule with 2 chiral centres, fenvalerate is a mixture of four optical isomers which have different insecticidal activities. The 2-S alpha (or SS) configuration is the most insecticidally active isomer.
Supplied in a variety of formulations including emulsifiable concentrates, ULV, wettable powders & granules
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
0.001
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
53000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
n-Hexane
-
200000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Xylene
-
84000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Methanol
-
Melting point (°C)
39.5
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data
-
Boiling point (°C)
Decomposes on distillation
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
230
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
1.02 X 1005
Calculated
-
Log P
5.01
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
High
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
Soluble
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
-
Data type
Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.175
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
-
-
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
0.0192
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
4.20 X 10-02
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data
Non-volatile
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)
40
M4 M = GLEAMS Model database (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems). Dataset no longer available. 4 = Verified data
Moderately persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
77
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderately persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
Note
Other sources: DT₅₀ 35 days (DW4)
Manure DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
9.2
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Moderately fast
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
115
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Persistent
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
-
H3 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-mobile
Koc
5273
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf
13.11
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
High
Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
> 0.00003
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
High
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.000005
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
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rabbit
-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
> 0.101
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
-
-
-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
0.0125
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
A3 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 3 = Negative
;
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
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
No data found
XNo, known not to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
General human health issues
May cause abdominal pain, convulsions and vomiting if ingested Cardiovascular and blood toxicant IARC Group 3 carcinogen - not classifiable Endocrine issues - Inhibition of estrogen-sensitive cells proliferation
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
Environmental fate
