Mecoprop (Ref: RD 4593)

Mecoprop (Ref: RD 4593)	Last updated: 02/03/2024
(Also known as: MCPP; mechlorprop; CMPP; mecoprop acid)

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	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Earthworms acute ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health High alert: Genotoxic

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A post-emergence herbicide used to control broad-leaved weeds on non-crop areas

Example pests controlled

Cleavers; Chickweed; Plantains; Clover; Ground ivy; Dandelions

Example applications

Turf including lawns, sports fields; Commercial sod production; Drainage ditches; Rights-of-way

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

circa 1956, introduced

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

GB LERAP status

No UK approval for use as a pesticide

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Denmark

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes

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

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Technical mecoprop is chiral and an isomeric mixture of enantiomers of which only one form, the D+ isomer is herbicidally active and which is contained in the racemate in equal proportion to the L- form.

Chemical formula

C₁₀H₁₁ClO₃

Canonical SMILES

CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)Cl)OC(C)C(=O)O

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

WNTGYJSOUMFZEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C10H11ClO3/c1-6-5-8(11)3-4-9(6)14-7(2)10(12)13/h3-5,7H,1-2H3,(H,12,13)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
mecoprop	Unstated isomer

General status

Pesticide type

Herbicide

Substance groups

Phenoxypropionic herbicide

Minimum active substance purity

930 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - None declared

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Selective, systemic, absorbed by leaves with translocation. Synthetic auxin.

CAS RN

7085-19-0

Alternative/old CAS RN

93-65-2

EC number

202-264-4

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

031501

PubChem CID

7153

CLP index number

607-049-00-2

Molecular mass

214.65

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(RS)-2-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy)propionic acid

CAS name

2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid

Other status information

Potential groundwater contaminant

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

UK statutory standard for surface water quality: ‘Good’ for freshwater, transitional and coastal waters 20 µg 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

Physical state

White to light brown crystalline solid

Related substances & organisms

mecoprop diolamine

mecoprop etexyl

mecoprop potassium

mecoprop trolamine

Formulations

Property

Value

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

Nufarm
BASF
FBC
Rhone-Poulenc
Universal Crop Protection

Example products using this active

Iso-Cornox
MecoPex
Propal
Mepro
Methoxone

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as a liquid concentrate or as an emulsifiable concentrate

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

250000

High

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

4110

n-Heptane

126000

Xylene

1000000

Methanol

469000

Ethyl acetate

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

6.46 X 10^-01

Calculated

Log P

-0.19

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.37

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

3.11

Weak acid

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

1.6

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)

2.20 X 10^-04

Non-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

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

8.2

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

8.2

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

3.8

Note

Published literature RL₅₀ range 3.0-4.7 days, 2 field crops, various matrices, n=2

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Stable

Note

pH sensitive: DT₅₀ 42 days at pH 5, 44 days at pH 7, 32 days at pH 9

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Stable

Note

Stable pH 5 to pH 9 up to 70 °C, 8 days

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Moderately fast

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Stable

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)

Mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

0.41

Mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

EU dossier K_f range 0.2-0.69 mL g⁻¹, K_foc range 20-43 mL g⁻¹, Soils=4

pH sensitivity

Adsorption higher at lower pH

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

2.29

Calculated

Transition state

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

Value

2.90 X 10^-02

Calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Low

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Mobile

Calculated

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

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low potential

CT₅₀ (days)

1.1

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

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

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

4-chloro 2-methylphenol

Minor fraction

0.035

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)

1166

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

11.4

Rat

High

(ppm diet)

150

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

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 500

Anas platyrhynchos

Moderate

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

5000 mg kg feed⁻¹

Anas platyrhynchos

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

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

988

Moderate

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

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen mineralisation: No significant adverse effect
Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect

Dose: 33.6 kg ha⁻¹

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)

> 100

Low

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

> 100

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)

240

Unknown species

Low

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

109

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

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

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

> 200

Daphnia magna

Low

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

22.0

Daphnia magna

Low

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)

40.2

Unknown species

Low

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

237

Unknown species

Low

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

Unknown species

Low

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)

1166

Rat

Moderate

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

4000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

12.5

Rat (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

0.01

Rat SF=100

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

None allocated

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

Rat 90 day SF=100

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

List II

Exposure Routes

Public

No unacceptable risks to bystanders identified

Occupational

No unacceptable risks to operators or other workers identified

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.01 mg l⁻¹

UK EA QS database 2018

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Eliminated unchanged in the urine of mammals

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

No data found

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

No further information available

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), and phosgene may be formed in a fire
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 9
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302, H315, H318
Environment: H400, H410

WHO Classification

II (Moderately hazardous)

UN Number

UN3077

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

Chemically stable under standard ambient conditions

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

mecoprop

French

mecoprop

German

Mecoprop

Danish

mechlorprop

Italian

mecoprop

Spanish

mecoprop

Greek

mecoprop

Polish

mekoprop

Swedish

mekoprop

Hungarian

mecoprop

Dutch

mecoprop

Norwegian

Record last updated:	02/03/2024
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