Bensulide is an organophosphate herbicide. It has a low aqueous solubility, miscible with most common organic solvents and shows a low to moderate volatility. It may persist in soil and water systems under certain conditions. They is a low risk of leaching to groundwater. Bensulide has a moderate toxicity to humans as well as being a cholinesterase inhibitor and a neurotoxin. It is moderately toxic to birds, fish, aquatic plants and 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 High alert: Persistent; Potential for particle bound transport: High
Ecotoxicity High alert: Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A selective, pre-emergence organophosphorus herbicide
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
0.11
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Lemna gibba
Moderate
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
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)
270
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
2000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
1.75
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
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