(Also known as: phosdrin; duraphos; mevinox; phosdrine; menite)
SUMMARY
Mevinphos is a highly toxic organophosphate insecticide. Known to cause significant inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) activity by all routes of exposure. Readily soluble in water, volatile, slow aquatic hydrolysis, rapidly degrades in soil. Whilst the molecule is potentially mobile, it would not be expected to leach into groundwater due to rapid soil degradation. Extremely toxic to aquatic invertebrates, birds and mammals.
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 High alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: High; Fish acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Endocrine disrupter; Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An insecticide and acaricide used to control a broad spectrum of sucking and chewing insects
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
AMVAC Chemical Corp
Huikwang Corp.
Shell
Kenogard
Example products using this active
Phosdrin
Mevidrin
Apavinphos
Menite
Duraphos
Formulation and application details
Usually available as a liquid or emulsifiable concentrate
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
600000
M4 M = GLEAMS Model database (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems). Dataset no longer available. 4 = Verified data
High
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
Miscible
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Acetone
-
Melting point (°C)
21
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
-
-
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
1.34 X 1000
Calculated
-
Log P
0.127
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
-
-
-
Data type
-
-
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.24
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
-
-
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
17
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Highly volatile. 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)
6.30 X 10-06
H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data
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)
1.2
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
3
DW4 DW = Don Wauchope personal database for Pka data: Wauchope, R. D. and Edwards, J. Dissociation constants for pesticide active ingredients: a database and comparison with predicted values. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
General studies: DT₅₀ 1-4 hrs aerobic conditions, 1-12 days anaerobic conditions (R3)
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix
Value
0.77
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.38-1.4 days, 6 field & undercover grown crops, various matrices, n=6
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix
Value
0.6
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.5-0.7 days, 2 field crops, various matrices, n=2
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
27
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Slow
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
17
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
21
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Fast
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
5
K4 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Moderately fast
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
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
-
G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Mobile
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
44
Notes and range
Other studies: 50.5-86.2 mL g⁻¹ (R3)
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
-
-
-
Kfoc (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
1.12
Calculated
Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
2.51 X 10-03
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 risk
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
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)
3.5
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Rat
High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
4
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Rat 2 yr
High
(ppm diet)
-
-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
-
-
-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 4.63
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Anas platyrhynchos
High
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)
0.094
K3 K = Research datasets (e.g. Pandora, Demetra; these datasets no longer available). Norman Ecotoxicology database. (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Apis mellifera
High
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
-
-
-
Notes
[The residual time to 25% mortality (RT25) value for honeybees is 4 hrs - USEPA data]
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)
0.146
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Megachile rotundata
High
Mode of exposure
Contact
Other bee species (2)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
0.002
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Nomia melanderi
High
Mode of exposure
Contact
Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)
-
-
-
Beneficial insects (Lacewings)
Moderately harmful
AA2 AA = IOBC Database on classification of side effects to beneficial organisms, 2005 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Chrysoperla carnea
-
Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)
-
-
-
Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)
Harmful
AA2 AA = IOBC Database on classification of side effects to beneficial organisms, 2005 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Typhlodromus pyri
-
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)
0.012
G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Oncorhynchus mykiss
High
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
> 35.0
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
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
Environmental fate
