Butanethiol-Pesticide database

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(Also known as: butyl mercaptan; thiobutyl alcohol ; SBU)

Butanethiol is an odourous animal repellent used to protect ornamental areas. It is highly soluble in water and is also highly volatile. Whilst little ecotoxicity data is available butanethiol is not thought to be highly toxic to biodiversity especially considering its potential pattern of use. It is moderately toxic to humans if ingested and is a recognised irritant.

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: Moderately mobile Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity Low alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Low Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health Moderate alert: Mammals acute toxicity: Moderate; Possible Reproduction/development effects; Neurotoxicant

GENERAL INFORMATION

An animal repellent to control animals from damaging ornamental plantings and trees. Also used as a cotton defoilant

Example pests controlled

Deer; Bears; Foraging animals; Foliage

Example applications

Ornamentals including shrubs, trees; Orchards; Cotton

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Introduction & key dates

circa 2000, USA

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Date COPR inclusion expires

UK LERAP status

No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

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

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Chemical structure

Chemical formula

Canonical SMILES

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

WQAQPCDUOCURKW-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C4H10S/c1-2-3-4-5/h5H,2-4H2,1H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Repellent, Other substance

Other constituent type

Substance groups

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Strong odour similar to that produced by skunks

US EPA chemical code

CLP index number

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)

Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)

Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)

Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)

Examples of recorded resistance

Pale yellow liquid with fetid odour

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Example products using this active

Bear Skunker
Scoot Deer

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Source; quality score; and other information

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

V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source

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

Melting point (°C)

V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source

Boiling point (°C)

Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

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

R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications
3 = Unverified data of known source

Fat solubility of residues

Density (g ml⁻¹)

V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

Highly volatile

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

R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications
3 = Unverified data of known source

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

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Source; quality score; and other information

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

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

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Soil adsorption and mobility

Source; quality score; and other information

V1 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
1 = Estimated data with little or no verification

Moderately mobile

Notes and range

Notes and range

Source; quality score; and other information

GUS leaching potential index

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Cannot be calculated

Potential for particle bound transport index

Potential for loss via drain flow

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

Based on LogP < 3

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Source; quality score; and other information

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

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

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)

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

Source; quality score; and other information

Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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

Ictalurus punctatus

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

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

Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (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)

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

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

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

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

Source; quality score; and other information

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source

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

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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

EU MRL pesticide database

GB MRL Register

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Specific human health issues

Endocrine disruptor

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

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

?Possibly, status not identified

XNo, known not to cause a problem

?Possibly, status not identified

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin sensitiser

✓Yes, known to cause a problem

✓Yes, known to cause a problem

✓Yes, known to cause a problem

General human health issues

The offensive smell of mercaptans can cause headache and nausea
High concentrations may cause pulmonary irritation

Handling issues

Value and interpretation

Flammable
Corrosive

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

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