Acetic acid |
Last updated: 31/10/2024 |
(Also known as: acetyl hydroxide; ethylic acid; methanecarboxylic acid; glacial acetic acid; vinegar) |
SUMMARY |
Acetic acid is a multi-use chemical with application in agriculture as a totsl herbicide.It is not persistent in either soil or water and has a low to medium oral toxicity to most biodversity. However, it is highly corrosive and so may damage anything it comes in contact with. |
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 |
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Used to control a wide variety of annual and perennial broad-leaved weeds and grasses on non-cropped areas. May also be pesticide transformation product. | |
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Foxtails; Lambsquarters; Pigweed; Velvetleaf; Canada thistle | |
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Non-cropped areas; Hard surfaces including walkways, pavements | |
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- | |
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- | |
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Current | |
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1997, first registered USA | |
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- |
UK regulatory status |
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Approved | ||
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31/08/2031 | ||
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None |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Approved | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Austria/Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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30/11/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Additional information |
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Chemical structure |
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None | |
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CH₃COOH | |
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CC(=O)O | |
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No data | |
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QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |
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InChI=1S/C2H4O2/c1-2(3)4/h1H3,(H,3,4) | |
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Yes |
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Common Name | Relationship | Link |
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acetic acid | - |
General status |
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Herbicide, Metabolite, Other substance | |
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Soil, Plant, Animal | |
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Biocide | |
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Carboxylic acid herbicide | |
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980 g/Kg | |
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EU dossier - None declared | |
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Natural | |
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Broad-spectrum, contact action, effect arises from the corrosive nature of the substance | |
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Fermenting fruits make acetic acid naturally. Some bacteria, for example, Acetobacter organisms also excrete it. | |
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Most acetic acid is produced by methanol carbonylation | |
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Weed clearance | |
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Foxtails; Lambsquarters; Pigweed; Velvetleaf; Canada thistle | |
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Non-cropped areas; Hard surfaces including walkways, pavements | |
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- | |
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64-19-7 | |
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200-580-7 | |
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None allocated | |
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044001 | |
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176 | |
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60.05 | |
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- | |
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ethanoic acid | |
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Acetic acid | |
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EC 2232/96 Annex 1 registered as food flavouring agent; Some applications may be approevd under the GB Biocides Products Regulations | |
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- | |
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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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Colourless liquid or crystals | |
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Formulations |
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50% Acetic acid | Reagent Products | ||||
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Usually supplied as a soluble concentrate that is mixed with water and used as a spray. |
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1050000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
High | ||||||||
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>200000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Toluene5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
>200000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Isopropanol5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | |||||||||
>200000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Ethyl acetate5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | |||||||||
>200000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Acetone5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | |||||||||
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16.7 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
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118 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
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No decomposition below boiling point | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
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39 | P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators (closed cup)3 = Unverified data of known source |
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1.23 X 1000 | Calculated | - | |||||||
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0.09 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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Insoluble | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | |||||||
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Regulatory data | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
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1.0492 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
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4.75 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
Weak acid, 25DegC | |||||||||||
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1.57 X 1006 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable | ||||||||
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9.3 X 10-02 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Non-volatile | ||||||||
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- | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
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Negligible | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
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Does not absorb light with wavelengths >290nm | V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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27.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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Degradation |
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1.2 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Non-persistent | |||||||
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0.95 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Non-persistent | ||||||||
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3.2 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Non-persistent | ||||||||
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EU dossier states DT₅₀ range 0.7-1.23 days, DT₉₀ range 2.5-4.1 days; Other literature study reports DT₅₀ 24 mins (R3). | ||||||||||
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1.2 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderately fast | ||||||||
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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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- | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Very mobile | |||||||
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0 | ||||||||||
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EU dossier Koc = 0; Other literature Koc values of 6.5 to 228 ml/g quoted | ||||||||||
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No |
Known metabolites |
None
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Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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3530 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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> 1000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Eisenia foetida5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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- | - | - | ||||||||
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Nitrogen mineralisation: No significant adverse effect Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect |
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes Dose: 750 kg ha⁻¹ 28 Day |
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32.7 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Sinapis alba5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes Vegetative vigour, ER₅₀ as L/ha |
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270 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Aphidius rhopalosiphi5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
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200 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Typhlodromus pyri5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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Aquatic ecotoxicology |
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45.0 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Oncorhynchus mykiss5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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31.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Daphnia magna5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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37.9 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Daphnia magna5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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16.0 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Lemna gibba Biomass5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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5.8 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata Biomass5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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General |
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Low (class I) | - | - | ||||||||
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3530 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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1060 | P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators Rabbit3 = Unverified data of known source |
- | ||||||||
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40.0 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 4 hr5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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None allocated | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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None allocated | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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1.0 | A3 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Humans as mg m³ for inhalation3 = Unverified data of known source |
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Risks acceptable for proposed uses | |||||||||
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Risks acceptable for proposed uses | ||||||||||
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Health issues |
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Ingestion may cause severe corrosion of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract |
Handling issues |
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Flammable Corrosive Hygroscopic IMDG Transport Hazard Class 8 Will emit irritating and corrosive fumes on heating |
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Handling: H226 Health: H314 |
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Not listed (Not listed) | |||
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UN2789 | |||
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Packaging Group III (minor danger) | |||
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acetic acid | ||
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acide acetique | ||
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Essigsaeure | ||
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- | ||
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acido acetico | ||
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- | ||
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Octowy kwas | ||
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attiksyra | ||
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- | ||
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azijnzuur | ||
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eddiksyre |
Record last updated: | 31/10/2024 |
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 |