| L-ascorbic acid |
 |
Environmental Fate - Ecotoxicology - Human Health - A to Z Index - Home
GENERAL INFORMATION 
for L-ascorbic acid
Description: Substance with fungicide and bactericide action against Phytophthora infestans in potatoes, fusarium in ornamentals and botrytis in greenhouse tomatoes
Example pests controlled: -
Example applications: -
Efficacy & activity: -
Appearance and life cycle: -
Availability status: Current
Introduction & key dates: 2011, as pesticide; first discovered 18thC
Taxonomic classification: -
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Netherlands |
| Date inclusion expires | 30/06/2024 |
| EU Candidate for substitution (CfS) | No |
| Listed in EU database | Yes |
Approved for use (
) or known to be used (
) in the following European countries: 
AT |
BE |
BG |
CY |
CZ |
DE |
DK |
EE |
EL |
ES |
FI |
FR |
HR |
HU |
IE |
IT |
LT |
LU |
LV |
MT |
NL |
PL |
PT |
RO |
SE |
SI |
SK |
UK |
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Known to used in the following countries: -
Chemical structure:
| Isomerism | Isomeric |
| Chemical formula | C6H8O6 |
| Canonical SMILES | C(C(C1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O |
| Isomeric SMILES | C([C@@H]([C@@H]1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | CIWBSHSKHKDKBQ-JLAZNSOCSA-N |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C6H8O6/c7-1-2(8)5-3(9)4(10)6(11)12-5/h2,5,7-10H,1H2/t2-,5+/m0/s1 |
| 2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
General status:
| Biopesticide type | Fungicide, Bactericide | |||
| Substance group | Unclassified | |||
| Minimum active substance purity | >990 g/kg | |||
| Known relevant impurities | EU dossier - methanol <3g/kg; heavy metals 0.01g/kg | |||
| Substance origin | Natural | |||
| Mode of action | Systemic, protective, stimulates the natural defence mechanisms and wound healing processes in plants | |||
| Substance source | A naturally occurring substance that can be isolated from synergistic vitamin C complexes found in living nutrient sources | |||
| Substance production | Manufactered for commercial use from corn or refined sugar | |||
| Uses | Crop protection | |||
| Target pests | Phytophthora infestans, fusarium spp. in ornamentals and botrytis spp. | |||
| Target host | Various crops including potatoes, tomatoes and ornamentals | |||
| Farming system suitability | - | |||
| CAS RN | 50-81-7 | |||
| EC number | 200-066-2 | |||
| CIPAC number | 774 | |||
| US EPA chemical code | - | |||
| PubChem CID | - | |||
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 176.1 | |||
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | - | |||
| IUPAC name | (5R)-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one | |||
| CAS name | - | |||
| Other status information | - | |||
| Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards | - | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |||
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |||
| Examples of recorded resistance | - | |||
| Physical state | White powder | |||
| Related substances & organisms | - | |||
Formulations:
| Property |
Product | Manufacturer | ||
| Formulation and application details | Usually supplied as a soluble liquid. | |||
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
for L-ascorbic acid
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 330000 | A5 | High | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | Insoluble | A5 - Ether | - | |
| Insoluble | A5 - Benzene | - | ||
| Insoluble | A5 - Chloroform | - | ||
| 50000 | A5 - Propylene glycol | - | ||
| Melting point (oC) | 190 | A5 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | Decomposes before boiling | A5 | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | 190 | A5 | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | Not expected to self ignite; Not highly flammable | A5 | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 1.32 X 10-02 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | -1.88 | A5 | Low | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | - | - | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | - | - | - | |
| Note: | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 20oC (mPa) | - | - | - | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | - | - | - | |
| Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol-1 cm-1 | pH 6.4: max @ 265nm pH 2: max @ 245nm |
A5 | - | |
| Surface tension (mN m-1) | Not surface active | A5 | - | |
Degradation:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
General biodegradability | - |
| Soil degradation (days) (aerobic) | DT50 (typical) | - | - | - |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note: | - | |||
| Dissipation rate RL50 on plant matrix | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Dissipation rate RL50 on and in plant matrix | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous photolysis DT50 (days) at pH 7 | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | - | - | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | 15 | A3 | Fast | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | - | - | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | - | - |
| Koc | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | - | - | - |
| Kfoc | - | |||
| 1/n | - | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
Other known metabolites:
| Metabolite name and reference | Aliases | Formation medium / Rate | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | Metabolising enzymes |
| ascorbate-2-sulphate | - | Humans | - | - |
| oxalic acid | - | Humans | - | - |
| dehydroascorbic acid | - | Humans | - | - |
ECOTOXICOLOGY
for L-ascorbic acid
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | Low risk | Q3 Based on LogP < 3 | Low potential |
| CT50 (days) | - | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 11900 | V3 Rat | Low | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | - | - |
| (ppm diet) | - | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | > 250 | F3 Gallus domesticus as NOEL | Moderate | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | > 2000 | Q2 Unknown species | Low | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | 2000 | F3 Oreochromis niloticus | Low | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (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 - Acute 7 day EC50, biomass (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Non-target plants | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | ||
| Algae - Acute 72 hour EC50, growth (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-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) | > 100 | Q2 Expert judgement | Low | |
| 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 pollinators (1) | Acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect-1) | - | - | - |
| Mode of exposure | - | |||
| Other pollinators (2) | Acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect-1) | - | - | - |
| Mode of exposure | - | |||
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | > 1000 | Q2 Expert judgement | Low | |
| Earthworms - Chronic 14 day NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms - e.g. Collembola | LR50 / EC50 / NOEC / % Effect | - | - | - |
| Other arthropod (1) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Other arthropod (2) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Soil micro-organisms | - | - | - | |
| Mesocosm study data | NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - |
| NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - | |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
for L-ascorbic acid
General:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)  |
Low (class I) | - | - | |
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 11900 | V3 Rat | Low | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | - | - | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other Mammal toxicity endpoints | Intravenous LD50 = 518 mg kg-1 | V3 Mouse | - | |
| Subcutaneous LD50 = 10000 mg kg-1 | V3 Rat | - | ||
| ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg-1bw day-1) | None allocated | A5 | - | |
| ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg-1bw day-1) | None allocated | A5 | - | |
| AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg-1 bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | None allocated | A5 | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | 100 | A5 | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | - | - | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | Considered safe | ||
| Occupational | Considered safe | |||
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Genotoxic | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | |||
|
A3; B1; C3; D0; E2 |
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| Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Skin sensitiser | Eye irritant | Phototoxicant | ||||
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| General human health issues | Excessive consumption may cause diarrhoea and behavioural effects | |||||||
| Key: Genotoxicity A: Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) B: DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) C: Gene mutation (EFSA database) D: Genome mutation (EFSA database) E: Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0: No data 1: Positive 2: Mixed/ambiguous results 3: Negative |
Key: Other : Yes, known to cause a problem  : No, known not to cause a problem  : Possibly, status not identified - : No data found |
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Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| General |
Not explosive or oxidising | |||
| CLP classification 2013 | None allocated at this time | |||
| EC Risk Classification |
- | |||
| EC Safety Classification |
- | |||
| WHO Classification | NL | - | Not listed | |
| UN Number | Not regulated | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
- | |||
TRANSLATIONS
for L-ascorbic acid
| Language | Name |
| English | L-ascorbic acid |
| French | acide ascorbique |
| German | - |
| Danish | - |
| Italian | acidum ascorbicum |
| Spanish | acido ascorbico |
| Greek | - |
| Slovenian | - |
| Polish | - |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | - |
| Dutch | - |
Record last updated: Tuesday 25 June 2019
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk