Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid	Last updated: 17/08/2023
(Also known as: EDTA; edetic 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
	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate; Earthworms acute ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

Substance without pesticidal activity that is sometimes added to formulations as a binding agent or to initiate a chemical reaction. It is reported to have some effect on Gram negative bacteria.

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

UK LERAP status

Not applicable

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

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

Chemical formula

C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₈

Canonical SMILES

C(CN(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O)N(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C10H16N2O8/c13-7(14)3-11(4-8(15)16)1-2-12(5-9(17)18)6-10(19)20/h1-6H2,(H,13,14)(H,15,16)(H,17,18)(H,19,20)/f/h13,15,17,19H

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Adjuvant, Other

Other constituent type

Chelating agent

Substance groups

Unclassified substance

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Metal chelation

CAS RN

60-00-4

EC number

200-449-4

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

039101

PubChem CID

Molecular mass

292.24

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

2-[2-(bis(carboxymethyl)amino)ethyl-(carboxymethyl)amino]acetic acid

CAS name

2-({2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl}(carboxymethyl)amino)acetic acid

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

UK Environment Agency non-statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life in freshwater and saltwater: 400 µg l⁻¹ as annual average, 4000 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc.

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

White translucent crystalline solid

Related substances & organisms

ferric phosphate

Formulations

Property

Value

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

Example products using this active

Quastal Special
Gluma cleanser
Havidote
Titriplex

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

1000

at 25 °C

High

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

Melting point (°C)

240

Boiling point (°C)

Decomposes before boiling

Degradation point (°C)

220

Flashpoint (°C)

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

1.38 X 10^-04

Calculated

Log P

-3.86

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

0.86

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

0.26

Strong acid

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

Literature reports slow degradation

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

K_oc

Notes and range

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 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)

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)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

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

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

156

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)

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)

Lepomis macrochirus

Moderate

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Unknown species as sodium salt

Moderate

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

122

Daphnia magna

Low

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

Daphnia magna as sodium salt

Low

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)

3.0

Unknown species as sodium salt

Moderate

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

0.88

Unknown species as sodium salt

Moderate

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

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

Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.6 mg l⁻¹

UK EA QS database 2018

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Eliminated via the kidneys (95%) and bile (5%)

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

Possible kidney toxicant
Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage,

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Slightly flammable/explosive

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302, H318

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

French

acide ethylenediaminetetracetique

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

acido edetico

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	17/08/2023
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