Copper sulphate

Copper sulphate	Last updated: 09/06/2026
(Also known as: tribasic copper sulphate; Component of Bordeaux mixture; tetracopper, hexahydroxide sulphate semi hydrate)

SUMMARY

A widely used copper fungicide. It has a low aqueous solubility and a low volatility. As a heavy metal, copper itself will not degrade in the environment. It is moderately toxic to mammals and most biodiversity

Hazard alerts

The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) 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. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.

PHT: Environmental fate	PHT: Ecotoxicity	PHT: Human health	Highly Hazardous Pesticide
Environmental fate Low alert: Non-persistent; GUS: Low leachability; Drainflow: Non-mobile; Potential for particle bound transport: Low	Ecotoxicity High alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: High	Human health Moderate alert: Mammals acute toxicity: Moderate; Mammals chronic toxicity: Moderate; Genotoxic; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A protectant foliar fungicide often used in aquatic situations to control algae

Example pests/issues controlled

Algae; Pond weeds in potable water

Example applications

Aquatic situations including ditches, drainage channels, streams, rivers, Hemp

Efficacy & activity

Copper based products have been shown to be affective against many fungal pathogens in field trials.

Appearance and life cycle

Taxonomic classification

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

31/12/2027

GB LERAP status

No data

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

France/Germany

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

30/06/2029

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Yes - two 'Persistent-Bioaccumulative-Toxic' criteria

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece
			✓	✓	✓			✓
ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg
✓			✓	✓				✓
LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia
	✓			✓	✓		✓	✓

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Also used in

USA; Morocco; Japan

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

CuSO₄

Canonical SMILES

[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[Cu+2]

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/Cu.H2O4S/c;1-5(2,3)4/h;(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+2;/p-2/fCu.O4S/qm;-2

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Biopesticide type

Fungicide; Algicide; Other substance

Other bioactivity & uses

Bactericide

Substance groups

Inorganic compound

Minimum active substance purity

>490 g kg⁻¹ total copper

Known relevant impurities

EU 2016 dossier: May contain heavy metals including Pb, Cd, As, Ni, CO, Sb & Hg

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Foliar absorption, prevents spore germination. Multi-site activity.

Substance source

Copper sulphate occurs naturally in minerals (e.g. chalconthite) and is also found in low concentrations in water and soils

Uses

Algae control in water

Farming system suitability

CAS RN

12527-76-3

Alternative/old CAS RN

1333-22-8

EC number

231-847-6

CIPAC number

44.306

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

24462

CLP index number

No data found

Molecular mass (Da)

159.61

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

copper II sulphate pentahydrate

CAS name

tribasic copper sulphate pentahydate

Global Governance status: Listed (✓) under

UK Poisons List Order 1972	Rotterdam Convention	Montreal Protocol
XNo The Poisons List Order 1972	XNo Rotterdam Convention	XNo Montreal Protocol
Stockholm Convention	OSPAR	EU Water Framework Directive
XNo Stockholm Convention	XNo OSPAR	XNo EU Water Framework Directive

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Forever chemical

Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP)

Type I

Type II

Other status information

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

M01

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

Blue-green powder

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

Circa 1700s, first reported use; 1956, first registered USA

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

Ebenso
Nippon soda
Nufarm
Triangle

Example products using this active

Formulation and application details

Supplied in a variety of formulations including soluble crystals, wettable powders and flowable suspensions.

Commercial production

The production of copper sulphate typically involves reacting copper metal or copper-containing ores with sulphuric acid. In one common method, copper scrap or ore is dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid, often with the aid of heat and air or oxidising agents to accelerate the reaction. This forms a solution of copper(II) sulphate, which is then filtered to remove insoluble impurities. The clear solution is concentrated through evaporation, allowing blue copper sulphate pentahydrate crystals to form. These crystals are cooled, separated, and dried before packaging for use.

Impact on climate of production and use

GHG emissions for the production of copper sulphate arise from mining, refining and conversion of the copper to the sulphate salt. Average emissions for refined copper production are around 4.1 tonnes of CO₂e per tonne of copper. The conversion to the sulphate salt will add to these emissions but are significantly less than that from mining and refining.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C at pH 7 (mg l⁻¹)

3.42

Low

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

1.0

Heptane

1.0

p-Xylene

1.0

Acetone

1.0

n-Octanol

Melting point (°C)

360

Boiling point (°C)

Decomposes before boiling

Degradation point (°C)

360

Flashpoint (°C)

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

2.75 X 10⁰⁰

Calculated

Log P

0.44

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

2.29

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Not applicable

No dissociation

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

3.40 X 10^-10

at 25 °C

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

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

72.2

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Not biodegradable

Soil degradation (days) (Aerobic conditions)

DT₅₀ (typical)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU 2018 dossier: Copper ion rapidly released in soil. Copper is a naturally occurring element and, as such,, does nbot then degrade further. DT₅₀ of Cu >10,000 days

Soil mineralisation

Aerobic (at 20 °C)

Anaerobic (at 20 °C)

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Stable

Note

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

Value

Stable

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)

Non-mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

9500

Notes and range

General literature: K_oc range 1000-18000 mL g⁻¹ (US3)

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 300

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

4.0

Rat 2-yr as copper

Moderate

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 72.4

Colinus virginianus

High

Birds - Short term dietary LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

> 155

Eisenia foetida

Moderate

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

< 15

Eisenia foetida as Cu 56 day

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen mineralisation: No significant adverse effect
Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect

Dose: 11.6 kg Cu/ha; 28 Day

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)

> 23.5

Apis mellifera

Moderate

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

40.0

Apis mellifera

Moderate

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) as Mortality LR₅₀ g Cu/ha

Typhlodromus pyri

Moderate

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Beneficial insects (Butterflies)

Contact

Notes

Oral

Notes

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

13.2

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

0.97

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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

2.3

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

0.057

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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)

0.5

Chironomus riparius

Moderate

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹) (EC₅₀)

0.145

Lemna minor

Moderate

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

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹) (72 hr EC₅₀)

12.3

Raphidocelis subcapitata

Low

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

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves – Acute EC₅₀, reproduction (mg l⁻¹)

0.0026

Crassostrea gigas

Regulatory Threshold Levels (RTLs)

Note: These RTLs have been calculated using the regulatory approach used in the European Union and based on ecotoxocity values in the PPDB.

Species group

RTL

Notes

Mammals

0.8

Worst case of acute and chronic mammals

Birds

7.24

Worst case of acute and chronic birds

Soil organisms

Worst case of acute and chronic earthworms

Terrestrial plants

No data

No data for non-target plants vegetative vigour and seedling emergence

Pollinators

0.47

Worst case of contact and oral honeybees

Arthropods

Worst case of parasitic wasps and predatory mites

Fish

0.097

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic fish

Aquatic invertebrates

0.0057

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic aquatic invertebrates

Aquatic plants

0.0145

Worst case of free-floating plants, rooted plants, acute and chronic algae

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)

> 300

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

4.0

Rat 2-yr as copper

Moderate

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

> 2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

1.48

Rat as mg kg⁻¹

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.15

Dog SF=100

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.072

Dermal penetration studies (%)

1-9

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

List II

Exposure Routes

Public

Negligible risk to bystanders for proposed uses

Occupational

Acceptable risk to operators and workers for proposed uses with PPE/PPC

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

After ingestion, more than 99% of copper is excreted in the faeces

Health issues

Specific human health issues (hazard-based)

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Potential heavy metal poisoning
May cause nausea
Mutagenic potential at high doses

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Prevent generation of dust
Not explosive or oxidising
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302

WHO Classification

II (Moderately hazardous)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

copper sulphate

French

cuivre de sulfate tribasique de cuivre

German

Kupfersulfat

Danish

kobbersulfat (blåsten)

Italian

solfato di rame

Spanish

sulfato de cobre

Greek

Polish

siarczan miedzi (II)

Swedish

koppar(II)sulfat

Hungarian

rézszulfat

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	09/06/2026
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

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