| parathion-methyl (Ref: OMS 213) |
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Environmental Fate - Ecotoxicology - Human Health - A to Z Index - Home
GENERAL INFORMATION 
for parathion-methyl
Description: An insecticide used to control sucking and chewing insects in a wide range of crops
Example pests controlled: Aphids; Boll weevils; Mealybugs; Scale; Armyworms
Example applications: Cereals; Cotton; Vegetables; Soybean; Fruit; Vines
Efficacy & activity: -
Availability status: Current
Introduction & key dates: circa 1950
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
| Status | Not approved |
| Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur | Italy |
| 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, Costa Rica
Chemical structure:
| Isomerism | - |
| Chemical formula | C8H10NO5PS |
| Canonical SMILES | COP(=S)(OC)OC1=CC=C(C=C1)[N+](=O)[O-] |
| Isomeric SMILES | No data |
| International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey) | RLBIQVVOMOPOHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| International Chemical Identifier (InChI) | InChI=1S/C8H10NO5PS/c1-12-15(16,13-2)14-8-5-3-7(4-6-8)9(10)11/h3-6H,1-2H3 |
| 2D structure diagram/image available? | Yes |
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams:
| Common Name | Relationship | Link |
| Parathion-methyl | - |  |
General status:
| Pesticide type | Insecticide | |
| Substance group | Organophosphate | |
| Minimum active substance purity | - | |
| Known relevant impurities | - | |
| Substance origin | Synthetic | |
| Mode of action | Contact and stomach insecticide. Cholinesterase inhibitor. | |
| CAS RN | 298-00-0 | |
| EC number | 206-050-1 | |
| CIPAC number | 487 | |
| US EPA chemical code | 053501 | |
| PubChem CID | 4130 | |
| Molecular mass (g mol-1) | 263.21 | |
| PIN (Preferred Identification Name) | - | |
| IUPAC name | O,O-dimethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate | |
| CAS name | O,O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphorothioate | |
| Other status information | Chemical subject to PIC regulations; Potential groundwater contaminant; Marine Pollutant | |
| Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards | - | |
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC) | Not applicable | |
| Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA) | Not applicable | |
| Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC) | 1B | |
| Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC) | Not applicable | |
| Examples of recorded resistance | Aedes melanimon Aedes nigromaculis Anopheles albimanus Coleomegilla maculata Culex pipiens pallens many others |
|
| Physical state | Colourless 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 | No UK approval for use as a pesticide under EC Regulation 1107/2009 | |||
| Formulation and application details | Available in a wide variety of formulations including dustable powders, emulsifible concentrates, encapsulated suspensions, ULV liquid and wettable powders. | |||
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
for parathion-methyl
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Solubility - In water at 20oC (mg l-1) | 55 | L3 | Moderate | |
| Solubility - In organic solvents at 20oC (mg l-1) | 200000 | L3 - Dichloromethane | - | |
| 200000 | L3 - Toluene | - | ||
| 15000 | L2 - Hexane | - | ||
| Melting point (oC) | 35.5 | L3 | - | |
| Boiling point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Degradation point (oC) | - | - | - | |
| Flashpoint (oC) | 150 | L3 | - | |
| Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20oC | P | 1.00 X 1003 | Calculated | - |
| Log P | 3 | L3 | Moderate | |
| Bulk density (g ml-1)/Specific gravity | 1.36 | L3 | - | |
| Dissociation constant (pKa) at 25oC | - | - | - | |
| Note: | ||||
| Vapour pressure at 20oC (mPa) | 0.2 | L3 | Low volatility | |
| Henry's law constant at 25oC (Pa m3 mol-1) | 8.57 X 10-03 | L3 | Non-volatile | |
GUS leaching potential index  |
1.46 | Calculated | Low leachability | |
| SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l-1) for a 1 kg ha-1 or 1 l ha-1 application rate |
Value | 2.54 X 10-02 | Calculated | - |
| Note | - | |||
| Potential for particle bound transport index |
- | Calculated | Low | |
| 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) | 12 | Y4 | Non-persistent |
| DT50 (lab at 20oC) | 12 | Y4 | Non-persistent | |
| DT50 (field) | 10 | Y4 | Non-persistent | |
| DT90 (lab at 20oC) | - | - | - | |
| DT90 (field) | - | - | - | |
| DT50 modelling endpoint | - | - | - | |
| Note | PIC DGD states lab DT50 range 1-18 days | |||
| Dissipation rate RL50 on plant matrix | Value | 3.6 | R4 | - |
| Note | Published literature RL50 range 0.4-6.7 days, 6 field crops, various matrices, n=8 | |||
| Dissipation rate RL50 on and in plant matrix | Value | 1.9 | R4 | - |
| Note | Published literature RL50 range 0.7-6.6 days, 7 field crops, various matrices, n=12; Fruit in cold storage RL50 range 63-65 days, n=2 | |||
| Aqueous photolysis DT50 (days) at pH 7 | Value | 9 | Q2 | Moderately fast |
| Note | - | |||
| Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20oC and pH 7 | Value | 21 | K4 | Non-persistent |
| Note | - | |||
| Water-sediment DT50 (days) | 5 | Q2 | Fast | |
| Water phase only DT50 (days) | 15 | Q2 | Slow | |
Soil adsorption and mobility:
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Linear | Kd | - | W3 | Moderately mobile |
| Koc | 240 | |||
| Notes and range | - | |||
| Freundlich | Kf | 34.4 | R4 | Moderately mobile |
| Kfoc | 442 | |||
| 1/n | 1.038 | |||
| Notes and range | Literature data: Kf range 8.0-37.8 (178 for peat) mL/g, Kfoc range 276-677 (276 for peat) mL/g, 1/n range 0.909-1.123, Soils=8 | |||
| pH sensitivity | - | |||
ECOTOXICOLOGY
for parathion-methyl
| Property |
Value | Source/Quality Score/Other Information |
Interpretation |
|
| Bio-concentration factor | BCF (l kg-1) | 71 | J3 Oncorhynchus mykiss | Low potential |
| CT50 (days) | Not available | - | ||
| Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg-1) | 3 | L3 Rat | High | |
| Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL | (mg kg-1) | - | L2 Rat, 2 year | - |
| (ppm diet) | 2 | - | ||
| Birds - Acute LD50 (mg kg-1) | 1044 | L3 Anas platyrhynchos | Moderate | |
| Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50) | - | - | - | |
| Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 2.7 | L3 Oncorhynchus mykiss | Moderate | |
| Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l-1) | 0.0073 | L3 Daphnia magna | High | |
| Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l-1) | 0.00035 | F3 Americamysis bahia | High | |
| 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) | - | - | - | |
| Non-target plants | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | ||
| Algae - Acute 72 hour EC50, growth (mg l-1) | 3 | L3 Scenedemus subspicatus | Moderate | |
| Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l-1) | - | - | - | |
| Honeybees (Apis spp.) | Contact acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee-1) | 19.5 | F4 | Moderate |
| 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) | - | - | - | |
| 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) | 0.0157 | R4 Megachile rotundata | High |
| Mode of exposure | Contact | |||
| Other pollinators (2) | Acute LD50 (worst case from 24 , 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect-1) | 0.096 | R4 Trigona spinipes | High |
| Mode of exposure | Contact | |||
| Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg-1) | 40 | L3 Eisenia foetida | Moderate | |
| Earthworms - Chronic 14 day NOEC, reproduction (mg kg-1) | - | - | - | |
| Other soil macro-organisms - e.g. Collembola | LR50 / EC50 / NOEC / % Effect | - | - | - |
| Other arthropod (1) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Other arthropod (2) | LR50 g ha-1 | - | - | - |
| % Effect | - | - | - | |
| Soil micro-organisms | - | - | - | |
| Mesocosm study data | NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - |
| NOEAEC mg l-1 | - | - | - | |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
for parathion-methyl
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) | 3 | L3 Rat | High | |
| Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg-1 body weight) | 45.0 | L3 Rat | - | |
| Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l-1) | 0.17 | L3 Rat | - | |
| Other Mammal toxicity endpoints | - | - | ||
| ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.003 | JMPR 1995 | - | |
| ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg-1bw day-1) | 0.03 | UK ACP 1999 | - | |
| AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg-1 bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg-1bw day-1) | - | - | - | |
| Dermal penetration studies (%) | - | - | - | |
| Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464 | List I; List II | - | - | |
| Exposure Routes | Public | - | ||
| Occupational | Skin absorption, and to a lesser extent inhalation and ingestion | |||
| European MRLs | Click here for the EU MRL pesticide database | |||
| Drinking Water Standards | - | - | - | |
| 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 | Extremely hazardous IARC Group 3 carcinogen; USEPA - not likely to be a human carcinogen |
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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 |
|
| General |
Explosive on heating Flammable IMDG Transport Code is 6.1 |
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| CLP classification 2013 | Handling: H226 Health: H300, H311, H330, H373 Environment: H400, H410 |
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| EC Risk Classification |
T+ - Very toxic: R26/28 T - Toxic: R24 Xn - Harmful: R48/22 H - Handling risks: R5, R10 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53 |
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| EC Safety Classification |
S1/2, S28, S36/37, S45, S60, S61 | |||
| WHO Classification | Ia | - | Extremely hazardous | |
| UN Number | Active 2783, liquid products 3018 | |||
| Waste disposal & packaging |
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TRANSLATIONS
for parathion-methyl
| Language | Name |
| English | parathion-methyl |
| French | parathion-methyl |
| German | Parathion-methyl |
| Danish | parathion-methyl |
| Italian | paration-metile |
| Spanish | paratión-metil |
| Greek | parathion-methyl |
| Slovenian | parationmetyl |
| Polish | paration metylu |
| Swedish | - |
| Hungarian | - |
| Dutch | parathion-methyl |
Record last updated: Thursday 20 June 2019
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk