Anthraquinone	Last updated: 04/03/2022
(Also known as: anthradione)

---

SUMMARY

Anthraquinone is a substance used as a bird repellent. It has a low aqueous solubility, volatile with a low risk of leaching to groundwater. it is non-persistent in soil but can be persistent in water under certain conditions. It shows a low mammalian toxicity but there are some concerns regarding its potential to bioaccumulate. No serious risks to human health have been reported. It is moderately toxic to birds, most aquatic organisms and earthworms. No data is available regarding the risk to honeybees.

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
Environmental fate Moderate alert: Drainflow: Slightly mobile; Potential for particle bound transport: Medium Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health Moderate alert: Possible Carcinogen; Neurotoxicant

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	Substance used primarily as a bird repellent formulated as a seed treatment
Example pests controlled	Birds such as rooks and crows
Example applications	Agricultural cropping
Efficacy & activity	-
Availability status	-
Introduction & key dates	1951, France; 1999, USA

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status	Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires	Expired
UK LERAP status	No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status	Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur	Belgium
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires	Expired
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

Additional information

Also used in	-

Chemical structure

Isomerism	None
Chemical formula	C₁₄H₈O₂
Canonical SMILES	C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	RZVHIXYEVGDQDX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C14H8O2/c15-13-9-5-1-2-6-10(9)14(16)12-8-4-3-7-11(12)13/h1-8H
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
anthraquinone	-

General status

Pesticide type	Repellent
Substance groups	Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Induces retching in birds and so deters attack
CAS RN	84-65-1
EC number	201-549-0
CIPAC number	290
US EPA chemical code	122701
PubChem CID	6780
Molecular mass	208.21
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	anthracene-9,10-dione
IUPAC name	anthracene-9,10-dione
CAS name	9,10-anthracenedione
Other status information	Chemical subject to PIC regulations; PAN listed Highly Hazardous Chemical
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	-
Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)	Not applicable
Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)	Not applicable
Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)	Not applicable
Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)	Not applicable
Examples of recorded resistance	-
Physical state	Yellow to green-grey crystals with a weak odour.

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	Arkon Life Sciences Bayer CropScience
Example products using this active	Flight Control Plus Corbit Morkit Repell
Formulation and application details	Usually supplied as a seed treatment

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		0.084	W4 W = French database provided by ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal 4 = Verified data	Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		2314	C4 C = AGRITOX (click here ) 4 = Verified data Benzene	-
		9030	C4 C = AGRITOX (click here ) 4 = Verified data Chloroform	-
		3520	C4 C = AGRITOX (click here ) 4 = Verified data Ethanol	-
		2598	C4 C = AGRITOX (click here ) 4 = Verified data Toluene	-
Melting point (°C)		286	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		377	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Degradation point (°C)		-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)		185	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source (closed cup)	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	3.31 X 1003	Calculated	-
	Log P	3.52	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	High
Density (g ml⁻¹)		1.44	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		7.4	V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
		Weak acid
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		5.00 X 10-03	C4 C = AGRITOX (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		3.50 X 10-05	C4 C = AGRITOX (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Non-volatile
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)	8	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	Best available data
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	Stable	W4 W = French database provided by ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal 4 = Verified data	Stable
	Note	-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Linear	Kd	-	W3 W = French database provided by ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal 3 = Unverified data of known source	Slightly mobile
	Koc	3215
	Notes and range	Best available data
Freundlich	Kf	-	-	-
	Kfoc	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
pH sensitivity		-

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		0.45	Calculated	Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	7.12 X 10-03	Calculated	-
	Note	-
Potential for particle bound transport index		Medium	Calculated	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		Slightly mobile	Calculated	-
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	100	Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Cyprinidae	Threshold for concern
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 5000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	Low
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	-	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
	(ppm diet)	15		-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 2000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Coturnix japonica	Low
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 1000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Eisenia foetida	Low
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 pollinators (1)	Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Mode of exposure	-
Other pollinators (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)		> 72	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss	Moderate
Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 10	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	Moderate
Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 0.942	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Americamysis bahia	Moderate
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)		0.2	F2 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Lemna gibba 7 day	Moderate
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)		10	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Scenedemus subspicatus	Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Mesocosm study data	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-
	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)		> 5000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	Low
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		5000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		1.33	AC4 AC = EC Joint Research Centre ESIS European Chemical Substance Information Systems including EINECS, now integrated with the database provided by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) (click here ) 4 = Verified data Rat 4 hr	-
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		-	-	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate		-	-	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic 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 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 ?Possibly, status not identified Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser No data found ✓Yes, known to cause a problem ?Possibly, status not identified Eye irritant Phototoxicant   No data found No data found
General human health issues		IARC Group 2B carcinogen May be harmful by ingestion, inhalation and through skin contact May cause dermatitis

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	No information available
CLP classification 2013	Health: H350
WHO Classification	U (Unlikely to present an acute hazard)
UN Number	-
Waste disposal & packaging	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	anthraquinone
French	anthraquinone
German	Anthrachinon
Danish	anthraquinon
Italian	antrachinone
Spanish	antraquinona
Greek	-
Polish	antrachinon
Swedish	-
Hungarian	antrachinon
Dutch	-

---

Record last updated:	04/03/2022
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