Peroxyacetic acid
Last updated: 17/08/2023
(Also known as: PAA; ethaneperoxoic acid; acetyl hydroperoxide; peracetic 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
A commodity substance used as an agricultural fungicide/nematicide and as a disinfectant for plant protection purposes
Algae; Downy mildew; Fusarium root rot; Powdery mildew; Rusts; Scabs; Smuts; Grey moulds
Fruit and vegetable storage; Ornamentals; Turf
-
Current
circa 1985, registered as an antimicrobial agent
Not approved - not a ppp. May be authorised at national level under different legislation
Expired
No UK approval for use
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
Not applicable - not a ppp. May be authorised at national level under different legislation
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ISIceland
NONorway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None
C₂H₄O₃
CC(=O)OO
No data
KFSLWBXXFJQRDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C2H4O3/c1-2(3)5-4/h4H,1H3
Yes
Fungicide, Nematicide, Microbiocide
Inorganic compound
-
-
Synthetic
Broad-spectrum, contact action, effect arises from the corrosive nature of the substance
79-21-0
201-186-8
None allocated
063201
6585
607-094-00-8
76.05
-
peroxyacetic acid
peracetic acid
-
-
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
NC
-
Colourless liquid
Desoxon 1 Osbon AC Rendition
-
1000000
at 25 °C
High
Miscible
Ether
-
0.1
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
110
-
-
-
-
40.5
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data
-
8.13 X 10-02
Calculated
-
-1.09
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.226
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
8.2
-
Weak acid
190000
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Highly volatile
0.217
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderately volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.0
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
2.0
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Short lived in the environment due to its high reactivity. DT₅₀ expected to be around 2 days at pH7.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
-
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Very mobile
1.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.15
Calculated
Low leachability
2.97 X 10-03
Calculated
-
-
Low
Calculated
-
Very mobile
Calculated
-
1
Low potential
Not available
-
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
> 330
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13.0
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
0.2
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
Cyprinus carpio 30 days
Moderate
3.3
Daphnia magna
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.18
Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata 120 hr
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
High (class III)
-
-
> 330
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
1410
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rabbit
-
> 0.5
Rat
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Occupational exposure to peracetic acid can occur through dermal contact and inhalation of vapour
EU MRL pesticide database 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carcinogen
Endocrine disruptor
No data found
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
No data found
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
 
May cause severe gastrointestinal tract irritation and renal failure Vapours may cause dizziness
Unstable - may explode on heating Caustic and corrosive IMDG Transport Hazard Class 5.2
Health: H302, H312, H314, H332 Handling: H226, H242 Environment: H400
Not listed (Not listed)
UN3105
Packaging Group II (moderate danger)
-
peroxyacetic acid
acide peracetique
-
-
-
acido peroxiacetico
-
-
-
-
-
-
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