8-methyl-2-decanol propionate

8-methyl-2-decanol propionate	Last updated: 04/02/2026
(Also known as: Western corn rootworm sex pheromone; WCR sex pheromone; 8-methyldecan-2-yl propanoate; 8-M-2-DP)

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 Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity High alert: Earthworms chronic ecotoxicity: High	Human health Low alert	Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP) Type II alert

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A semio-chemical emitted by females of several Diabrotica species, particularly Diabrotica virgifera virgifera which can be used to distrupt mating

Example pests controlled

Western corn rootworm

Example applications

Maize; Sweetcorn

Efficacy & activity

Efficiacy trials demonstrated product use leads to reduced Diabrotica pressure and so corn damage

Appearance and life cycle

Taxonomic classification

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

GB LERAP status

None

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Pending

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Austria

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

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

Known to be also used in the following countries

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Technical material is a racemic mixture. Substance has two chiral centres

Chemical formula

C₁₄H₂₈O₂

Canonical SMILES

CCC(C)CCCCCC(C)O.CCC(=O)O

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

QSDDGUCZFFODTR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C11H24O.C3H6O2/c1-4-10(2)8-6-5-7-9-11(3)12;1-2-3(4)5/h10-12H,4-9H2,1-3H3;2H2,1H3,(H,4,5)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Biopesticide type

Insecticide; Semiochemical

Substance groups

Pheromone

Minimum active substance purity

938 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EFSA 2023 dossier: None declared

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Functions as an insect attractant - mating disrupter

Substance source

Isolated and identified from virgin females of the western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte

Uses

Crop protection

Target pests

Western corn rootworm

Target host

Farming system suitability

Suitable for use in all farming systems where approved for use in that country

CAS RN

81931-28-4

EC number

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

71407379

Molecular mass

228.3

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

8-methyldecan-2-ol; propanoic acid

CAS name

8-methyl-2-decanol propionate

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

Yes [; ]

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)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

Colourless to light yellow liquid

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

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

Lithos Crop Protect GmbH
Austria

Example products using this active

Pherolit-d
Lithos Corn Protect

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied in slow release formulations and dispensers

Commercial production

The commercial production of pheromone attractants and lures involves a sophisticated blend of synthetic chemistry, entomology, and precision engineering. Manufacturers begin by identifying the specific pheromone compounds emitted by target pests, such as sex, aggregation, or alarm pheromones, and then replicate these molecules using chemical synthesis.

Impact on climate of production and use

While exact CO₂e values are not published for specific pheromones, some general information is available. The PHERA reported that biotechnological production (e.g. yeast fermentation) of pheromones can reduce GHG emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional chemical synthesis and GHG emissions are typically in the 5 to 10 kg CO₂e per kg of pheromone produced. Other sources suggest that small scale pheromone synthesis typically has emissions in the range 1 – 3 kg CO₂e per kg of pheromone produced.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

0.290

Low

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

250000

Hexane

250000

Toluene

25000

Methanol

25000

Ethyl acetate

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

240

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

4.68 X 10⁰⁷

Calculated

Log P

7.67

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

0.865

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

5300

Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable

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

214nm = 74.5, 275nm = 5.44

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

1.6

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

1.64

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

21.4

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EFSA 2024 dossier: Lab studies DT₅₀ (normalised) range 1.06-2.3 days, Dt90 (measured) range 4.63-49.5 days, Soil=4

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

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

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 Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

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

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Coturnix coturnix japonica

Low

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)

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

0.037

Eisenia foetida

High

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)

> 100

Apis mellifera

Low

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

> 109.4

Apis mellifera

Low

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) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

> 0.858

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Moderate

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

> 0.858

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)

> 0.292

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

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)

0.192

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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) (EC₅₀)

0.0155

Raphidocelis subcapitata

Moderate

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

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

Regulatory Threshold Levels (RTLs) used to calculate Total Applied Toxicity (TAT)

Species group

RTL

Notes

Mammals

200

Worst case of acute and chronic mammals

Birds

200

Worst case of acute and chronic birds

Soil organisms

0.0074

Worst case of acute and chronic earthworms

Terrestrial plants

No data

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

Pollinators

Worst case of contact and oral honeybees

Arthropods

0.429

Worst case of parasitic wasps and predatory mites

Fish

0.00292

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic fish

Aquatic invertebrates

0.00192

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic aquatic invertebrates

Aquatic plants

0.00155

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)

Low (class I)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Rat

Low

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

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

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

> 2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.45

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

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)

1.0

Rat SF=100

Dermal penetration studies (%)

10-50

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Negligible risk for proposed uses

Occupational

Negligible risk for proposed uses

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

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

Harmful if inhaled

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosive or oxidising

CLP classification 2013

Environment: H400, H410

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

8-methyl-2-decanol propionate

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German

Danish

Italian

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Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

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Record last updated:	04/02/2026
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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