Demephion-Pesticide database

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(Also known as: methyl-demeton-methyl; demefion)

Demephion is an obsolete insecticide. Other than having a high aqueous solubility, very little data is available regarding its environmental fate or ecotoxicology. Demephion is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a neurotoxin.

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
		Human health High alert: Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant Warning: Significant data are missing

GENERAL INFORMATION

A largely obsolete insecticide that was used to control sucking pests in a variety of crops

Example pests controlled

Aphids; Thrips; Mealybugs; Scale insects

Example applications

Potatoes; Sugarbeet

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries

Introduction & key dates

1955, first reported

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

Demephion is a chiral molecule. The technical material is a reaction mixture of the O- and S- structural isomers.

Chemical formula

C₁₀H₂₆O₆P₂S₄

Canonical SMILES

COP(=O)(OC)SCCSC.COP(=S)(OC)OCCSC

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

ZIBCESDMUREVIU-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/2C5H13O3PS2/c1-7-9(6,8-2)11-5-4-10-3;1-6-9(10,7-2)8-4-5-11-3/h2*4-5H2,1-3H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Insecticide, Acaricide

Substance groups

Organophosphate insecticide; Organothiophosphate insecticide; Organophosphate acaricide; Organothiophosphate acaricide

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Systemic, cholinesterase inhibitor

Alternative/old CAS RN

682-80-4+2587-90-8 (thiono and thiolo isomers)

US EPA chemical code

CLP index number

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

Mix of: O,O-dimethyl O-[2-(methylsulfanyl)ethyl] phosphorothioate and O,O-dimethyl S-[2-(methylsulfanyl)ethyl] phosphorothioate

Mix of: O,O-dimethyl O-[2-(methylsulfanyl)ethyl] phosphorothioate and O,O-dimethyl S-[2-(methylsulfanyl)ethyl] phosphorothioate

Mix of: O,O-dimethyl O-2-methylthioethyl phosphorothioate and O,O-dimethyl S-2-methylthioethyl phosphorothioate

Other status information

PAN Bad Actor Chemical; Subject to the provisions of the UK Poisons Act 1972

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

Myzus persicae

Pale yellow liquid

Related substances & organisms

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

VEB Farbenfabrok Wolfen
Atlas
Cyanamid

Example products using this active

Atlastox
Cymetox
Pyracide
Tinox

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Source; quality score; and other information

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

L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

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

L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

Flashpoint (°C)

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

Fat solubility of residues

Density (g ml⁻¹)

L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

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

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

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)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Source; quality score; and other information

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

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)

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)

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)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

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

✓Yes, known to cause a problem

✓Yes, known to cause a problem

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin sensitiser

General human health issues

Central nervous system toxicant
May cause seizures, incontinence, respiratory depression leading to a loss of consciousness

Handling issues

Value and interpretation

Not compatible with stronge alkalis

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Ia (Extremely hazardous)

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

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