Naphthalene |
Last updated: 29/08/2024
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(Also known as: tar camphor; naphthaline; moth balls) |
Naphthalene is only used for non-food applications. Slightly toxic if ingested but more serious effects may be seen if inhaled. It is considered a skin and eye irritant. It is also thought to be carcinogenic. Little is known about its environmental fate mainly because its usage patterns would minimise its release. Data suggests that it would be rapidly lost from the soil by evaporation, volatilization, and biodegradation. Non-toxic to birds and earthworms. It is moderately toxic to aquatic species but exposure is unlikely. No data for the risk posed to honeybees has been identified. |
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 |
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A largely obsolete insecticide once used as a moth repellant for the protection of textiles and as an animal repellant against nuisance vertebrate pests. It is also a constituent of some inert product additives. |
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Moths |
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Non-cropped situations; Wool clothing and textiles |
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- |
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- |
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Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries |
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1948, first registered as a pestcide USA |
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- |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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No UK approval for use |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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No |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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None |
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C₁₀H₈ |
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C1=CC=C2C=CC=CC2=C1 |
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- |
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UFWIBTONFRDIAS-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
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InChI=1S/C10H8/c1-2-6-10-8-4-3-7-9(10)5-1/h1-8H |
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Yes |
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams |
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Common Name |
Relationship |
Link |
naphthalene |
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Semiochemical, Other substance |
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Constituent of some solvents |
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Fumigant pesticide |
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- |
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- |
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Synthetic |
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Repellent action caused by strong odour, DNA damage response |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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91-20-3 |
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202-049-5 |
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613-139-00-2 |
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055801 |
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931 |
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613-139-00-2 |
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128.17 |
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naphthalene |
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naphthalene |
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naphthalene |
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Prohibited in Europe since 2008; WFD priority substance |
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EU Directive 2008/105/EC EQS Inland surface waters: 2.4 µg l⁻¹; other surface waters 1.2 µg l⁻¹ as annual average |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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White crystalline flaky solid |
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- |
- |
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Was usually supplied as pellets, granules or flakes and applied by hand |
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31.0 |
at 25 °C |
Low |
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285000 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Benzene |
- |
77000 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Methanol |
- |
500000 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Chloroform |
- |
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81.2 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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218 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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- |
- |
- |
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88 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source (closed cup) |
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1.95 X 1003 |
Calculated |
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3.29 |
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High |
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- |
- |
- |
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1.14 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
- |
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6500 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable |
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2.78 X 1001 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Moderately volatile |
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- |
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80 |
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Moderately persistent |
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Literature data reports DT₅₀'s of around 80 days unless the soil is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which will facilitate much quicker degradation rates. |
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- |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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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. |
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Soil adsorption and mobility |
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- |
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Slightly mobile |
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750 |
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Literature states Koc values range 200-1470 ml/g |
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Known soil and groundwater metabolites |
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None
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cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene |
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- |
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1,2-dihydroxy-naphthalene |
- |
- |
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2-hydroxchromene-2-carboxylate |
HCCA |
- |
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trans-o-hydroxy-benzylidenpyruvate |
tHBPA |
- |
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salicyladehyde |
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- |
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Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 2200 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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> 5620 |
Colinus virginianus |
Low |
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- |
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- |
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> 2730 |
Eisenia foetida |
Low |
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> 0.11 |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Moderate |
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> 0.67 |
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus kisutch 40 day |
Moderate |
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- |
- |
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> 15.0 |
Daphnia magna |
Moderate |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 25.0 |
Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata |
Low |
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- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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High (class III) |
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- |
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> 2200 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Low |
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2500 |
Rat |
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> 0.34 |
Rat 1 hr |
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Exposure may occur via inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
?Possibly, status not identified |
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 |
No data found |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
?Possibly, status not identified |
No data found |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
No data found |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
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Blood toxicant at high doses Liver toxicant May cause hemolytic anemia IARC Group 2B carcinogen; CLP data - suspected carcinogen; US NTP - suspected carcinogen; OSHA - Anticipated human carcinogen |
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Flammable |
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Health: H302, H351 Environment: H400, H410 |
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II (Moderately hazardous) |
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naphthalene |
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naphtalene |
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naftalen |
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Record last updated: |
29/08/2024 |
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 |