(Also known as: metaphos; meptox; thiophenit; quinophos; methyl-parathion)
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 Moderate alert: Drainflow: Moderately mobile
Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An insecticide used to control sucking and chewing insects in a wide range of crops
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
Bayer CropScience
FCC Ltd
Cheminova A/S
Monsanto
Example products using this active
Sweeper
Amithion
Prompt
Sabidol
Wolfatox
Formulation and application details
Available in a wide variety of formulations including dustable powders, emulsifible concentrates, encapsulated suspensions, ULV liquid and wettable powders.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
55
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderate
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
200000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Dichloromethane
-
200000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Toluene
-
15000
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Hexane
-
Melting point (°C)
35.5
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
-
-
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
150
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
1.00 X 1003
Calculated
-
Log P
3
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderate
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
-
-
-
Data type
-
-
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.36
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)
0.2
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low volatility. If applied directly to plants, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
8.57 X 10-03
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
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)
12
Y4 Y = Germany's Federal Environment Agency (UBA) (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
12
Y4 Y = Germany's Federal Environment Agency (UBA) (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
10
Y4 Y = Germany's Federal Environment Agency (UBA) (click here ) 4 = Verified data
Non-persistent
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
PIC DGD states lab DT₅₀ range 1-18 days
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix
Value
3.6
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.4-6.7 days, 6 field crops, various matrices, n=8
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix
Value
1.9
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.7-6.6 days, 7 field crops, various matrices, n=12; Fruit in cold storage RL₅₀ range 63-65 days, n=2
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
9
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Moderately fast
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
21
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)
5
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Fast
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
15
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Slow
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)
-
W3 W = French database provided by ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal. Dataset no longer available. 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderately mobile
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
240
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
34.4
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Moderately mobile
Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
442
1/n
1.038
Notes and range
Literature data: Kf range 8.0-37.8 (178 for peat) mL g⁻¹, Kfoc range 276-677 (276 for peat) mL g⁻¹, 1/n range 0.909-1.123, Soils=8
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
1.35
Calculated
Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
1.93 X 10-02
Calculated
-
Note
-
Potential for particle bound transport index
Low
Calculated
-
Potential for loss via drain flow
Moderately mobile
Calculated
-
Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk
-
-
-
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
71
J3 J = Pesticide Action Network database (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Low potential
CT₅₀ (days)
Not available
-
Known metabolites
None
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
14
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
Rat
High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
-
L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Rat 2 yr
-
(ppm diet)
2
-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
-
-
-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 1044
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Anas platyrhynchos
Moderate
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
-
-
-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
-
-
-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
40
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Eisenia foetida
Moderate
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)
750
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
Low
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 189 hrs (range 171-207 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)
0.0157
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)
0.096
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Trigona spinipes
High
Mode of exposure
Contact
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)
> 2.7
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
0.0089
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Cyprinodon variegatus
High
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
6.88
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
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
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Chironomus dilutus Growth
Low
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
3
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Scenedesmus subspicatus
Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
-
-
-
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)
14
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
Rat
High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
45.0
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.17
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 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
Ecotoxicity
