Onion oil |

Last updated: 24/08/2025
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(Also known as: Oil of Allium cepa L.; Allium cepa L. bulb extract) |
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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Oil or aqueous extract derived from Allium cepa L. used as an insect repellent or fungicide |
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Carrot root fly (psila rosae); Early blight; Tomato late blight; Grey mold; Common insect pests |
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Carrots, Celeriac, Parsnips, Parsley; Potatoes, Tomatoe; Cucumber |
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- |
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- |
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Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Asparagales; Family: Amaryllidaceae |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Approved |
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- |
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Open ended |
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No |
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Yes |
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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 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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✓ |
✓ |
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Onion oil is a complex natural extract than contains variety of sulphur-containing molecules, fatty acids, and volatile organic compounds, some of which exhibit isomerism. For example, its sulphur-containing compounds like thiols, sulphides, and disulphides can exist in structural isomeric forms, depending on how the sulphur atoms are bonded. Fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids, present in onion oil, can undergo cis-trans isomerism, especially under heat or light exposure. |
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C₇H₁₆ClNO₂ |
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CCC(C)C(C(=O)OC)N.Cl |
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CC[C@@H](C)[C@H](C(=O)OC)N.Cl |
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GGTBEWGOPAFTTH-KGZKBUQUSA-N |
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InChI=1S/C7H15NO2.ClH/c1-4-5(2)6(8)7(9)10-3;/h5-6H,4,8H2,1-3H3;1H/t5-,6-;/m1./s1 |
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No |
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Semiochemical; Insecticide; Fungicide |
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Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
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Food grade quality |
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EU dossier: none reported |
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Natural; Complex mixture |
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As a repellent works via scent masking - aroma originates from plant roots and foliage rich in linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids. Mode of action as a fungicide is unreported. |
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Extracted from the bulb of Allium cepa L. |
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Crop protection |
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Carrot root fly (psila rosae); Early blight; Tomato late blight; Grey mould |
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Carrots, Celeriac, Parsnips, Parsley; Potatoes, Tomatoe; Cucumber |
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- |
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8002-72-0 |
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232-498-2 |
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- |
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- |
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53472027 |
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181.66 |
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methyl (2R,3R)-2-amino-3-methylpentanoate;hydrochloride |
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methyl (2R,3R)-2-amino-3-methylpentanoate;hydrochloride |
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- |
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- |
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EU Basic substance under Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009); UK Basic commodity substance implemented under the UK's Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011 |
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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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Not applicable |
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Oily amber to yellow coloured liquid comprised of various fatty acids dominated by linoleic acid (~65%) |
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Current |
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2010, start of formal agricultural trials |
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Use in oil dispensers as insect repellent and as a spray when used as a fungicide |
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Commercial production of onion oil begins with cultivating and harvesting onions. The oil is extracted from the bulbs using steam distillation, which isolates the desirable volatile compounds. Some manufacturers also use solvent extraction for specialised formulations. After extraction, the oil is filtered and refined to ensure purity and consistency. |
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Data for specific plant oils is scarce. However, from publicly available data the carbon footprint of plant oils has been estimated at between 1.0 and 4.0 kg CO₂e per kg of oil. This depends on the plant oil content, agricultural practices and processing methods used. |
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41 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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1.02 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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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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> 1000 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Moderate |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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> 1000 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Moderate |
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None allocated |
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None allocated |
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None allocated |
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None allocated |
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Minimal risks for the public from proposed uses |
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PPC recommended |
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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 |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
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Irritant and skin sensitiser |
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Flammable liquid when forumated as an oil Use foam or carbon dioxide in firefighting - not water May produce hazardous organic compounds in a fire Not oxidising agent IMDG Transport Hazard Class 3 |
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Health: H226, H317 Environment: H401, H410 |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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UN1197 |
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Packaging Group III (minor danger) |
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onion 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 |