Mercurous chloride
Last updated: 01/09/2023
(Also known as: calomel)
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
 
 
Used as a soil treatment for the control of various fungal diseases on brassicas and other crops
Fusarium; Plasmodiophora brassicae ; Delia spp.; Sclerotium cepivorum
Onions; Turf; Brassicas
-
Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries
1929, insecticidal properties first described
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ISIceland
NONorway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None
Hg₂Cl₂
Cl2Hg2
No data
ZOMNIUBKTOKEHS-UHFFFAOYSA-L
InChI=1S/2ClH.2Hg/h2*1H;;/q;;2*+1/p-2
Yes
Fungicide, Insecticide, Other substance
Inorganic compound
-
-
Natural
Broad spectrum, strong toxin to most living organism
10112-91-1
7546-30-7
233-307-5
None allocated
-
24956
080-003-00-1
472.09
dimercury(I) chloride
mercury(I) chloride
mercury(I) chloride
mercury chloride
Phytotoxic to many plants; Banned in many countries; Chemical subject to GB PIC regulations
-
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not known
NC
-
White powder
Usually formulated as dusts or wettable powders
2.0
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
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400
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Sublimes
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Soil adsorption and mobility
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Cannot be calculated
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
210
Rat
Moderate
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
High (class III)
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210
Rat
Moderate
1500
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
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Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 10 mg kg⁻¹
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Mouse
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EU MRL pesticide database 
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Carcinogen
Endocrine disruptor
?Possibly, status not identified
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
No data found
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
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
 
CLP data - suspected carcinogen
No information available
Health: H351
II (Moderately hazardous)
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mercurous chloride
chlorure mercureux
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Record last updated:
01/09/2023
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