Dimethyl disulfide
Last updated: 01/09/2023
(Also known as: DMDS; dithioether; dimethyl disulphide; dimethyl sulfide)
Dimethyl disulphide is used as a soil fumigant. It has a high aqueous solubility and is highly volatile. It is not expected to be persistent in soil systems nor to leach to groundwater. It is moderately toxic to birds, aquatic life and mammals by ingestion.
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 multi-use pre-plant pest management chemical which is mainly used as a soil fumigant. It also has food additive applications.
Soil-borne pathogens; Nematodes
Tomatoes; Peppers; Aubergines; Strawberries; Blueberries; Field-grown ornamentals; Forest nursery stock
-
Current
2012, first registered USA
Not approved
Not applicable
-
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
Pending
France
-
No data
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
C₂H₆S₂
CSSC
-
WQOXQRCZOLPYPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C2H6S2/c1-3-4-2/h1-2H3
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name
Relationship
Link
dimethyl disulfide
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Fungicide, Herbicide, Insecticide, Nematicide
Fumigant pesticide
>98.8%
-
Synthetic
As an insecticide dimethyl disulfide works by causing mitochodrial dysfunction. Broad-spectrum fungicide.
624-92-0
210-871-0
None allocated
029088
12232
No data found
94.20
(methyldisulfanyl)methane
dimethyl disulfide
dimethyl disulfide
Volatile Organic Compound; FEMA 3536; PAN Bad Actor Chemical
-
Not known
Not known
Not known
Not known
None identified
Slightly yellow liquid with strong garlic-like odour
Usually supplied as either an emulsifiable concentrate which is diluted and applied by drip irrigation of broadcast sprayer or as a soil fumigant
2702
High
Miscible
n-Hexane
-
-85
-
109
-
-
-
-
15.0
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
5.89 X 1001
Calculated
-
1.77
Low
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.062
-
Not applicable
-
No dissociation
3.8 X 1006
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Highly volatile
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.3
Non-persistent
3.3
Non-persistent
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.3
Moderately fast
-
Stable
Stable
Stable at all environmentally relevant pH's
-
-
-
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
-
Mobile
35
Koc range 15-47 mL g⁻¹
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.27
Calculated
Low leachability
2.86 X 10-03
Calculated
-
-
Low
Calculated
-
Mobile
Calculated
-
-
-
-
-
-
Major fraction
0.330
DT50 soil = 15 days
Minor fraction
-
-
Minor fraction
-
-
Known groundwater metabolites
None
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
190
Rat
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
342
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Colinus virginianus
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.97
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
-
-
-
1.8
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6.7
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Anabaena flos-aquae 96 hr
Moderate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
High (class III)
-
-
190
Rat
Moderate
2000
Rabbit
-
5.05
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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
; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative
No data found
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
XNo, known not to cause a problem
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
 
Toxic by ingestion Inhalation may cause nausea, headache amd dizziness
Flammable Incompatible with strong oxidisng agents Will emit toxic fumes on heating IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
-
II (Moderately hazardous)
UN2381
Packaging Group II (moderate danger)
-
dimethyl disulfide
disulfure de dimethyle
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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