Ractopamine

Ractopamine	Last updated: 23/02/2024
(Not known by any other names)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A substance often used as a feed additive to promote performance. Now banned in many countries including the EU & china. Often used as the hydrochloride salt.

Availability status

Current; Banned in many countries

Introduction & key dates

Examples of veterinary uses

Once used for its economic and performance benefits - increasing rate of body mass gain, improving feed efficiency, and increasing carcass leanness

Examples of species treated

Pigs; Cattle; Turkeys

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Not approved

EU Regulatory approval status

Not approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

The technical material is a mixture of 4 stereoisomers. It is the RR-form of ractopamine is the most biologically active isomer.

Chemical formula

C₁₈H₂₃NO₃

Canonical SMILES

CC(CCC1=CC=C(C=C1)O)NCC(C2=CC=C(C=C2)O)O

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

YJQZYXCXBBCEAQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI:1S/C18H23NO3/c1-13(2-3-14-4-8-16(20)9-5-14)19-12-18(22)15-6-10-17(21)11-7-15/h4-11,13,18-22H,2-3,12H2,1H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Veterinary substance type

Feed additive; Animal growth promotor

Substance groups

Phenethanolamine

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

A phenolethanolamine beta-adrenoceptor agonist

Molecular targets

[Beta-adrenergic receptor, Agonist]

CAS RN

97825-25-7

EC number

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

56052

Therapeutic Class

ATCvet Code

None allocated

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Banned in the EU & UK

Molecular mass

301.39

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

4-(3-((2-Hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl)amino)butyl)phenol

IUPAC name

4-(3-((2-Hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl)amino)butyl)phenol

CAS name

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

White to yellow-brown coloured granular solid

Related substances & organisms

ractopamine hydrochloride

Formulations

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Authorisation Route

Legal Class (GB/UK)

Example products (past and present) using this active

IDS Ractopamine ELISA

Neogen

Not licensed

Optaflexx

Elanco

Not licensed

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

4100

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

2.51 X 10⁰²

Calculated

Log P

2.4

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

9.4

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

Environmental release

Main risk of environmental release is from the spreading of manure and slurries to farm land

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

1.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

10.5

Moderately fast

Note

pH sensitive: 16.3 days at pH 5, 0.64 days at pH 9

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

26.7

Slightly mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

2265

Notes and range

USEPA data: K_d range 14.5-36.0 mL g⁻¹, K_oc range 2007-2698 mL g⁻¹, Soils=3 as HCl salt

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

0.03

Calculated

Low leachability

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

6.3

as the hydrochloride salt

Low potential

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 365

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

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

Notes

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 bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (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

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

544

Lepomis macrochirus as HCl salt

Low

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

34.5

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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)

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

> 101.2

Selenastrum carpicornutum as HCl salt

Low

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 365

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

2000

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 2.8

Rat 4 hr as HCl salt

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

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Rapidly emininated via the urine

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

May cause skeletal muscle tremors and behavioural changes
May cause cardiovascular effects

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not compatible with oxidising agents
Will produce irritating and toxic gases if heated to decomposition
Corrosive

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

ractopamine

French

Rabeprazole

German

Rabeprazol

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Ractopamina

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	23/02/2024
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