| atrazine (Ref: G 30027) |
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SUMMARY
Atrazine is a herbicide that does not have EU approval for use. It has selective, systemic action with residual and foliar activity. It has a low aqueous solubility, it is volatile and, based on its physico-chemical properties there is some concern that it could leach to groundwater. It is generally not persistent in the field nor in aquatic systems. It is moderately toxic to mammals, is not expected to bioaccumulate and is a skin, eye and respiratory system irritant. Atrazine is moderately toxic to most aquatic life, earthworms and honeybees but presents less of a risk to birds. GENERAL INFORMATION 
for atrazine
Description: A triazine herbicide used pre- and post-emergence with restricted permitted uses to control broad-leaved weeds and grasses
Example pests controlled: Morning glory; Barnyard grass; Cocklebur; Lambsquarters; Crabgrass; Pigweed; Buckwheat; Ragweed; Foxtail
Example applications: Corn; Sorghum; Sugarcane; Turf; Asparagus
Efficacy & activity: -
Availability status: Current
Introduction & key dates: 1957
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Not approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | UK |
| Date inclusion expires | Expired |
| EU Candidate for substitution (CfS) | - |
| Listed in EU database | Yes |
Approved for use (
) or known to be used (
) in the following European countries: 
AT |
BE |
BG |
CY |
CZ |
DE |
DK |
EE |
EL |
ES |
FI |
FR |
HR |
HU |
IE |
IT |
LT |
LU |
LV |
MT |
NL |
PL |
PT |
RO |
SE |
SI |
SK |
UK |
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Also used in: Australia, USA
Chemical structure:
| Isomerism | None |
| Chemical formula | C8H14ClN5 |
| Canonical SMILES | CCNC1=NC(=NC(=N1)Cl)NC(C)C |
| Isomeric SMILES | No data |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | MXWJVTOOROXGIU-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C8H14ClN5/c1-4-10-7-12-6(9)13-8(14-7)11-5(2)3/h5H,4H2,1-3H3,(H2,10,11,12,13,14) |
| 2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
General status:
| Pesticide type | Herbicide | |
| Substance group | Triazine | |
| Minimum active substance purity | - | |
| Known relevant impurities | - | |
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |
| Mode of action | Selective, systemic action with residual and foliar activity. Inhibits photosynthesis (photosystem II). | |
| CAS RN | 1912-24-9 | |
| EC number | 217-617-8 | |
| CIPAC number | 91 | |
| US EPA chemical code | 080803 | |
| PubChem CID | 2256 | |
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 215.68 | |
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | 6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-(propan-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine | |
| IUPAC name | 6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine | |
| CAS name | 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine | |
| Other status information | OSPAR soc; WFD priority substance; Potential groundwater contaminant; Chemical subject to PIC regulations | |
| Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards | EU Directive 2008/105/EC EQS surface waters: annual average 0.6 ug/L; max measured 2.0 ug/L UK statutory standard for protection of aquatic life for inland, coastal and territory surface waters 2.0 ug/L |
|
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | C1 | |
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | 5 | |
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | Not applicable | |
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |
| Examples of recorded resistance | Many recorded cases Alopecurus myosuroides Alopecurus myosuroides Amaranthus retroflexus Conyza canadensis Abutilon theophrasti |
|
| Physical state | White crystals | |
| Related substances & organisms | ||
Formulations:
| Property |
Value | |||
| Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically |
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| Example products using this active |
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| UK LERAP status | Buffer probably required in UK - see product label | |||
| Formulation and application details | Available in a variety of formulations including dry flowable, flowable liquid, liquid, water dispersible granules and wettable powders. | |||
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
for atrazine
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 35 | B5 | Low | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | 24000 | F4 - Ethyl acetate | - | |
| 28000 | F4 - Dichloromethane | - | ||
| 4000 | F4 - Toluene | - | ||
| 110 | F4 - n-Hexane | - | ||
| Melting point (oC) | 175.8 | F4 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | Decomposes before boiling | F4 | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | Not expected to self ignite; Not highly flammable | F4 | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 5.01 X 1002 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | 2.7 | B5 | Moderate | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | 1.23 | F4 | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | 1.7 | B5 | - | |
| Note: Very weak base | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 20oC (mPa) | 0.039 | B5 | Low volatility | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | 1.50 X 10-04 | L3 | Non-volatile | |
GUS leaching potential index  |
2.57 | Calculated | Transition state | |
| SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l-1) for a 1 kg ha-1 or 1 l ha-1 application rate |
Value | 1.52 X 10-01 | Calculated | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Potential for particle bound transport index |
- | Calculated | Medium | |
| Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol-1 cm-1 | - | - | - | |
| Surface tension (mN m-1) | - | - | - | |
Degradation:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
General biodegradability | - |
| Soil degradation (days) (aerobic) | DT50 (typical) | 75 | B5 Laboratory | Moderately persistent |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | 66 | B4 | Moderately persistent | |
| DT50 (field) | 29 | B4 | Non-persistent | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note | Lab studies DT50 range 28-150 days, field studies DT50 range 6-108 days (USA); Other sources: DT50 6-10 weeks (R3), 146 days at 25 DegC (R3) | |||
| 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 | 2.6 | B5 | Moderately fast |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | 86 | K4 | Moderately persistent |
| Note | Rapidly hydrolysed in strong acids and alkalis and at elevated temperatures | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | 80 | K4 | Moderately fast | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | - | - | - | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | G3 | Moderately mobile |
| Koc | 100 | |||
| Notes and range | Other sources: 89-513 mL/g (R3), Log Koc 2.00 at 25 DegC (R4) | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | 3.2 | R4 | Moderately mobile |
| Kfoc | 174 | |||
| 1/n | 1.07 | |||
| Notes and range | Literature data: Kf range 1.3-6.3 mL/g, kfoc range 70-429 mL/g, 1/n range 1.04=1.10, Soils = 13 | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
Key metabolites:
| Metabolite | Formation medium | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | 1107/2009 relevancy |
|
| 6-deisopropyl atrazine (Ref: G-28279) |
Soil | 0.33 | Major, Relevant | |
| deethylatrazine (Ref: G-30033) |
Soil | 0.21 | Major, Relevant | |
| 2-hydroxyatrazine (Ref: G-34048) | Soil | - | Non Relevant | |
Other known metabolites:
| Metabolite name and reference | Aliases | Formation medium / Rate | Estimated maximum occurrence fraction | Metabolising enzymes |
| deisopropyldeethylhydroxyatrazine (Ref: G-17791) |
- | Soil | 0.004 | - |
| deisopropylhydroxyatrazine (Ref: G-17792) |
- | Soil | 0.08 | - |
| deethylhydroxyatrazine (Ref: G-17794) |
- | Soil | 0.08 | - |
| deisopropyldeethylatrazine (Ref: G-28273) |
- | Soil | 0.08 | - |
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | 4.3 | P4 (Other literature Log BCF range 0.98-2.5 (R3)) | Low potential |
| CT50 (days) | Not available | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 1869 | B5 Rat | Moderate | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | B3 Rat | - |
| (ppm diet) | 200 | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | 4237 | B5 Coturnix japonica | Low | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 4.5 | B5 Oncorhynchus mykiss | Moderate | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | 2 | J4 Oncorhynchus mykiss | Moderate | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | 85 | B3 Daphnia magna | Moderate | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | 0.25 | F3 Daphnia magna, LOEC | Moderate | |
| Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 1.0 | F4 Americamysis bahia | Moderate | |
| Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 1.0 | F3 Chironomus riparius, 1 day | Moderate | |
| 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) | 0.019 | F3 Lemna gibba | Moderate | |
| Non-target plants | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | ||
| Algae - Acute 72 hour EC50, growth (mg l-1) | 0.059 | B3 Raphidocelis subcapitata | Moderate | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-1) | 0.1 | F3 Green algae | Moderate | |
| Honeybees (Apis spp.) | Contact acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee-1) | > 100 | B4 | Low |
| Oral acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee-1) | > 100 | B5 | Low | |
| Unknown mode acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee-1) | - | - | - | |
| 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 | - | |||
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | 79 | B5 | Moderate | |
| Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms | Acute LC50 (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | Chronic NOEC (mg kg-1) | - | - | - |
| Other arthropod (1) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | Harmless | AA2 Typhlodromus pyri | - | |
| Other arthropod (2) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | Harmless | AA2 Chrysoperla carnea | - | |
| Soil micro-organisms | - | - | - | |
| Mesocosm study data | NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - |
| NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - | |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
for atrazine
General:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class) |
High (class III) | - | - | |
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 1869 | B5 Rat | Moderate | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | > 3100 | L3 Rat | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | 5.8 | L3 Rat | - | |
| Other Mammal toxicity endpoints | - | - | ||
| ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.02 | JMPR 2007 | - | |
| ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.1 | JMPR 2007 | - | |
| AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg-1 bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.01 | BA5; EU 1998 | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | 10 | BA5; EU 1998 | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | - | - | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | - | ||
| Occupational | May be absorbed from the lungs or through intact skin | |||
| European MRLs | Click here for the EU MRL pesticide database | |||
| Drinking Water Standards | Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.002 mg/L | UK EA QS database, 2018 | - | |
| Drinking Water MAC (μg l-1) | - | - | - | |
Health issues:
| Carcinogen | Genotoxic | Endocrine disrupter | Reproduction / development effects | Cholinesterase inhibitor | Neurotoxicant | |||
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A3; B0; C0; D0; E3 |
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| Respiratory tract irritant | Skin irritant | Skin sensitiser | Eye irritant | Phototoxicant | ||||
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| General human health issues | IARC Group 3 carcinogen May cause coma, circulatory collapse and gastric bleeding May cause renal failure May disturb testosterone metabolism Endocrine issues - Androgen inhibition, weak estrogenic effect |
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| Key: Genotoxicity A: Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) B: DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) C: Gene mutation (EFSA database) D: Genome mutation (EFSA database) E: Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0: No data 1: Positive 2: Mixed/ambiguous results 3: Negative |
Key: Other : Yes, known to cause a problem  : No, known not to cause a problem  : Possibly, status not identified - : No data found |
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Handling issues:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
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| General |
Avoid the formation of dust Powders may become explosive under certain conditions Store away from heat, flames and sparks |
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| CLP classification 2013 | Health: H317, H373 Environment: H400, H410 |
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| EC Risk Classification |
Xn - Harmful: R48/22, R43 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53 |
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| EC Safety Classification |
S2, S36/37, S61, S60 | |||
| WHO Classification | III | - | Slightly hazardous | |
| UN Number | - | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
- | |||
| Language | Name |
| English | atrazine |
| French | atrazine |
| German | Atrazin |
| Danish | atrazin |
| Italian | atrazina |
| Spanish | atrazina |
| Greek | atrazine |
| Slovenian | atrazin |
| Polish | atrazyna |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | atrazine |
| Dutch | atrazine |
Record last updated: Tuesday 29 October 2019
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk