Castor oil |

Last updated: 24/08/2025
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(Also known as: Ricinus oil; Tangantangan oil; Phorbyol; Trypsin complex) |
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. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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Castor oil is a triglyceride that can be used as a general garden non-toxic pesticide used to repel a range of garden pests. Ricinoleic acid is considered to be the bioactive component, |
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Voles; Moles; Mice; Rats; Squirrels; Gophers; Armadillos; Other burrowing vertebrate pests |
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Crops; Houseplants; Lawns |
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- |
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- |
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Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Malpighiales; Family: Euphorbiaceae |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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Castor oil itself does not exhibit classical isomerism as a single compound, because it is a complex mixture of triglycerides, primarily composed of ricinoleic acid esters. However, isomerism becomes relevant when castor oil is chemically modified, such as in dehydrated castor oil, which contains fatty acid isomers. |
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C₅₇H₁₀₄O₉ |
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CCCCCCC(CC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC(CCCCCC)O)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC(CCCCCC)O)O |
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CCCCCCC(O)C/C=C\CCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(OC(=O)CCCCCCC/C=C\CC(O)CCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCC/C=C\CC(O)CCCCCC |
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ZEMPKEQAKRGZGQ-AAKVHIHISA-N |
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InChI=1S/C57H104O9/c1-4-7-10-31-40-51(58)43-34-25-19-13-16-22-28-37-46-55(61)64-49-54(66-57(63)48-39-30-24-18-15-21-27-36-45-53(60)42-33-12-9-6-3)50-65-56(62)47-38-29-23-17-14-20-26-35-44-52(59)41-32-11-8-5-2/h25-27,34-36,51-54,58-60H,4-24,28-33,37-50H2,1-3H3/b34-25-,35-26-,36-27- |
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No |
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Semiochemical; Other substance |
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Adjuvant; Food Additive |
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Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
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- |
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Linoleic acid <4%; Oleic acid <3%; Stearic acid <1% |
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Natural; Complex mixture |
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Non-toxic mode of action. Odorant repellent. Suffocation for most insect pests with some antifeedant properties, and asphyxiation for rodents |
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Castor oil originates from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis), which is native to the Ethiopian region of tropical East Africa |
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Crop protection |
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Voles; Moles; Mice; Rats; Squirrels; Gophers; Armadillos; Other burrowing vertebrate pests |
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Crops; Houseplants; Lawns |
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- |
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8001-79-4 |
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68956-68-3 |
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232-293-8 |
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- |
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031608 |
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14030006 |
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933.4 |
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2,3-bis[[(Z)-12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoyl]oxy]propyl (Z)-12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoate |
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2,3-bis[[(Z)-12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoyl]oxy]propyl (Z)-12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoate |
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- |
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- |
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FEMA=2263; USEPA minimum risk pesticide |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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A pale-yellow or almost colorless transparent viscous liquid with a faint mild odor and nauseating taste. It is comprised mainly of fatty acids (~98%) and lipids. |
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Current |
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1994, first registered USA |
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Sold as the pure oil or as emulsifiable concentrates |
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The oil is pressed from the castor bean Ricinus communis. Alternatively, the oil may be solvent extracted using heptane or hexane |
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Miscible |
Methanol |
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Miscible |
Ethanol |
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Miscible |
Chloroform |
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-10 |
Freezing Pt |
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313 |
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229 |
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0.962 |
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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. |
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Soil adsorption and mobility |
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 5000 |
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Low |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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> 5000 |
Rat |
Low |
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5000 |
Rat |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
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 ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
?Possibly, status not identified |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
?Possibly, status not identified |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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?Possibly, status not identified |
No data found |
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Caster oil has laxative properties Slightly corrosive to skin Castor beans contain ricin which is highly toxic Possible liver toxin at high doses May cause a significant increase in prostaglandin E2 in females |
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Not explosive or oxidising Will emit irritating and toxic gases when heated to decomposition or combusted |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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Highly stable. |
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castor oil |
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Record last updated: |
24/08/2025 |
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 |