Cornmint oil |

Last updated: 25/08/2025
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(Also known as: p-mentha-6,8-dien-2-one; d-carvone) |
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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An essensial plant oil derived from the cornmint plant that is similar to spearmint which acts as an insect repellent |
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Storage pests; General insect control including spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) |
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Potatoes |
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- |
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- |
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Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Lamiales; Family: Lamiaceae |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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None |
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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No |
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No |
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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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Cornmint oil contains several compounds that exist in isomeric forms, including: menthol that has the stereoisomers: (-)-menthol, (+)-menthol; menthone that has structural isomers and various other isomeric compounds such as limonene. |
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Major consitituent: InChI=1S/C10H14O/c1-7(2)9-5-4-8(3)10(11)6-9/h4,9H,1,5-6H2,2-3H3 |
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No |
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Plant Growth Regulator; Insecticide; Metabolite; Other substance |
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Soil; Groundwater |
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Antimicrobial |
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Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
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- |
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- |
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Natural; Complex mixture |
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Works primarily through a non-toxic mode of action as a repellent but also thought to inhibit cell growth |
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Plant oil dervived primarily from the corn mint plant (Mentha arvensis) |
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Post harvest management - crop protection, growth inhibitor, sprout inhibitor |
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Storage pests, General insect control including spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) |
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Potatoes |
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- |
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68917-18-0 |
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290-058-5 |
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908 |
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128800 |
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- |
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- |
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cornmint oil |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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FEMA=4219; FLAVIS=16.059 |
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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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Pale yellow oily liquid. |
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Current |
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1966, first listed for plant protection |
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Usually supplied in formulations for hot fogging for indoor use only |
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Commercial production of cornmint oil involves cultivating the plant in temperate regions such as India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. Once the mint reaches maturity, the aerial parts, mainly leaves and stems, are harvested and subjected to steam distillation, the most common extraction method. This process releases volatile compounds, especially menthol. After distillation, the oil is often crystallized to separate menthol, leaving behind dementholised cornmint oil, which is used in various applications. |
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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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230 |
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30 |
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Moderately persistent |
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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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> 1240 |
Rat |
Moderate |
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> 1000 |
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source Eisenia foetida |
Low |
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> 200 |
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Low |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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Intermediate (class II) |
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> 1240 |
Rat |
Moderate |
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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 |
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 |
?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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May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea |
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Not explosve or oxidising |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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Volatile — store in an airtight container |
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cornmint oil |
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Record last updated: |
25/08/2025 |
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 |