MCPA-etexyl

MCPA-etexyl	Last updated: 12/12/2024
(Also known as: MCPA EHE)

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 Low alert: GUS: Low leachability; Drainflow: Non-mobile; Potential for particle bound transport: Low Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health Moderate alert: Mammals acute toxicity: Moderate; Genotoxic; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A herbicide for control of annual and perennial weeds in cereals and other crops. Can also be a pesticide transformation product.

Example pests controlled

Annual and perennial broad-leaved weeds including Charlock, Wild radish, Dandylion, Capeweed, Fat hen and Hedge mustards

Example applications

Wheat; Oats; Tritical; Rye; Establish grass; Lindseed; Asparagus

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

circa 1950, introduced

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

31/10/2029

GB LERAP status

Check label - may vary with formulationl

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Poland/Netherlands

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

15/08/2026

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes - as the acid

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
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Also used in

Australia, USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Substance is racemic.

Chemical formula

C₁₇H₂₅ClO₃

Canonical SMILES

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

IDGRPSMONFWWEK-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C17H25ClO3/c1-4-6-7-14(5-2)11-21-17(19)12-20-16-9-8-15(18)10-13(16)3/h8-10,14H,4-7,11-12H2,1-3H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
MCPA	Parent

General status

Pesticide type

Herbicide

Substance groups

Aryloxyalkanoic acid herbicide; Phenoxyacetic herbicide

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

EU 2022 dossier: None declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Selective, systemic with translocation. Synthetic auxin.

CAS RN

29450-45-1

EC number

249-636-2

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

CLP index number

607-051-00-3

Molecular mass

312.83

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

rac-(2R)-2-ethylhexyl (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetate

IUPAC name

(RS)-2-ethylhexyl [(4-chloro-o-tolyl)oxy]acetate

CAS name

2-ethylhexyl 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetate

Other status information

Potential groundwater contaminant

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

UK Environment Agency non-statutory standard for the protection of freshwater aquatic life pH <7: 12 µg l⁻¹, pH >7 80 µg l⁻¹ as annual average; pH <7: 120 µg l⁻¹, pH >7 800 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc. Data as the acid. For salt water 80 µg l⁻¹ as annual average, 800 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc. Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.002 mg l⁻¹

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Raphanus raphanistrum, Sisymbrium orientale

Physical state

Clear pale yellow liquid

Related substances & organisms

MCPA

MCPA-butyl

MCPA-diolamine

MCPA-potassium

Formulations

Property

Value

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

BASF
Bayer Environ
Dow AgroSciences
DuPont
Headland Agrochemicals
Luxan
Nufarm
Scotts

Example products using this active

Formulation and application details

Often supplied as soluble concentrate, wettable powder or emulsifiable concentrate

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

0.125

Low

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

1000000

n-Heptane

1000000

p-Xylene

1000000

Methanol

1000000

Ethyl acetate

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

257

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

6.31 X 10⁰⁶

Calculated

Log P

6.80

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Insoluble

Data type

Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

No dissociation

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

3.9

Low volatility. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable

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

9.7

Moderately volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Not readily biodegradable

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

0.5

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

Rapidly converts to MCPA

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) 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)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

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.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

1.02

Non-mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

6172

Notes and range

EU 2022 Dossier K_d range 57.9-178.0 mL g⁻¹, K_oc range 2531-16585 mL g⁻¹, Soils =4

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

-0.06

Calculated

Low leachability

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

Value

1.64 X 10^-05

Calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Low

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Non-mobile

Calculated

Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

$Click here for further information on Major/Minor fraction$

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

MCPA (Ref: BAS 009H)

Major fraction

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1300

Rat

Moderate

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)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

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)

> 200

Apis mellifera as MCPA

Low

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 200

Apis mellifera as MCPA

Low

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

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

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.88

Lepomis macrochirus

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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

0.28

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (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)

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

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

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

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)

> 1300

Rat

Moderate

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

2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.1

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.05

as MCPA

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.15

as MCPA

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.04

as MCPA

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

List II

Exposure Routes

Public

May be absorbed through the skin

Occupational

Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact

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

Complete hydrolysis to MCPA, excreted as MCPA

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

General human health issues

Highly toxic
May cause hypotension
Possible liver toxicant

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable
Not explosive or oxidising

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302, H312, H332
Environment: H400, H410

WHO Classification

II (Moderately hazardous)

UN Number

UN3345

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

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MCPA-etexyl

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Record last updated:	12/12/2024
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