Propionic acid
Last updated: 19/01/2023
(Also known as: metacetonic acid; carboxyethane; ethylformic acid)
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
 
Propionic acid inhibits the growth of pathogens and is used for hay, grain storage and other non-food applications
Development of moulds and bacteria
Hay; Grain storage; Sorgum; Poultry litter; Drinking water for livestock and poultry
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Current
circa 1970
Not approved
Not applicable
No UK approval for use
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
Not approved
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Yes
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None
CH₃CH₂COOH
CCC(=O)O
-
XBDQKXXYIPTUBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C3H6O2/c1-2-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3,(H,4,5)
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name
Relationship
Link
propionic acid
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Fungicide, Bactericide, Adjuvant, Other substance
Penetrant, Wetting agent
Carboxylic acid compound
-
-
Synthetic
Though to depress microbial growth in the gastro-intestinal tract
79-09-4
201-176-3
None allocated
077702
1032
607-089-00-0
74.08
-
propanoic acid
ethanecarboxylic acid
-
-
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not known
-
Colourless liquid
1000000
at 25 °C
High
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-
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-21
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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2.14 X 1000
Calculated
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0.33
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.99
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
4.88
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Weak acid
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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-
-
-
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5
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
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-
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Soil adsorption and mobility
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Cannot be calculated
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Low risk
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Based on LogP < 3
Low risk
-
-
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
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-
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-
-
-
-
-
-
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-
-
-
-
-
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-
-
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2600
Low
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-
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-
-
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-
-
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67.1
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
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-
-
21.0
Daphnia magna
Moderate
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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-
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
Low (class I)
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EU MRL pesticide database 
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Carcinogen
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
 
Gastrointestinal and liver toxicant USA cvlassified as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS)
Corrosive Flammable
-
Not listed
-
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propionic acid
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Record last updated:
19/01/2023
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