Phenylmercuric acetate

Phenylmercuric acetate	Last updated: 16/03/2023
(Also known as: PMA; phenylmercuric acetate)

SUMMARY

Data alerts

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.

Environmental fate	Ecotoxicity	Human health
Environmental fate High alert: Drainflow: Mobile Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: High Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Reproduction/development effects; Neurotoxicant

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A largely obsolete and highly toxic substance once used as a fungicide, herbicide and mildew inhibitor

Example pests controlled

Mildew; Broad spectrum of fungal pathogens

Example applications

Cereals; Beet crops; Fruit trees; Sugarcane; Peanuts; Sugarbeet

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries

Introduction & key dates

cicra 1921

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

UK LERAP status

No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Not applicable

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Not applicable

Listed in EU database

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

Additional information

Also used in

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₈H₈O₂Hg

Canonical SMILES

CC(=O)O[Hg]C1=CC=CC=C1

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

XEBWQGVWTUSTLN-UHFFFAOYSA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C6H5.C2H4O2.Hg/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1;1-2(3)4;/h1-5H;1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;+1/p-1/rC8H8HgO2/c1-7(10)11-9-8-5-3-2-4-6-8/h2-6H,1H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
phenylmercuric acetate	-

General status

Pesticide type

Herbicide, Fungicide, Bacteriacide

Substance groups

Organometal fungicide; Organomercury fungicide

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

An antitranspirant

CAS RN

62-38-4

EC number

200-532-5

CIPAC number

None allocated

US EPA chemical code

066003

PubChem CID

16682730

CLP index number

080-011-00-5

Molecular mass

336.74

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

phenylmercury(II) acetate

CAS name

(acetato-kO)phenylmercury

Other status information

Banned in many countries; Chemical subject to PIC regulations; Accumulates in the aquatic environment

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 to white-yellow crystalline powder

Formulations

Property

Value

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

ICI Plant Protection
Murphy
May & Baker
Bayer

Example products using this active

Ceresol
Agrosan
Cekusil

Formulation and application details

Was used mainly as a seed treatment

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

4370

High

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

Melting point (°C)

150

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

302

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

5.13 X 10⁰⁰

Calculated

Log P

0.71

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

2.4

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

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 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d

Mobile

K_oc

Notes and range

Estimated data

Freundlich

K_f

K_foc

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

Cannot be calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Potential for loss via drain flow

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low risk

Based on LogP < 3

Low risk

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Mouse

High

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 496

Coturnix japonica

Moderate

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

1028 ppm diet

Coturnix japonica

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

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

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

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)

Chronic

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)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 0.011

Oncorhynchus mykiss

High

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

> 0.06

Daphnia pulex

Moderate

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)

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

0.006

Anabaena flos-aquae

High

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Mouse

High

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

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 10 mg kg⁻¹

Rat

Intravenous LD₅₀ = 18 mg kg⁻¹

Mouse

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)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Mainly excreted via bile and excretion into the alimentary tract

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Highly toxic if swallowed, inhaled or in contact with the skin
CNS, Kidney & cardiovascular toxicant

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

IMDG Transport Code is usually 6.1
Corrosive

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

UN Number

1674

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group II (medium danger)

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

phenylmercuric acetate

French

acetate de phenylmercure

German

Phenylquecksilberacetat

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Record last updated:	16/03/2023
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