Capric acid

Capric acid	Last updated: 05/11/2026
(Also known as: nonanoic acid; fatty acid; decanoic acid)

Hazard alerts

The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) 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. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.

PHT: Environmental fate	PHT: Ecotoxicity	PHT: Human health	Highly Hazardous Pesticide
Environmental fate Moderate alert: Drainflow: Moderately mobile	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate; Earthworms chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health Low alert

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A naurally occurring fatty acid with multiple plant protection and biocidal applications

Example pests/issues controlled

Grass and broad-leaved weeds; Woody plants; Microbes

Example applications

Non-crop areas such as paths, walkways, terraces; Hemp; Vegetables; Soft fruit; Ornamentals

Efficacy & activity

Appearance and life cycle

Taxonomic classification

GB regulatory status

GB Retained EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Date GB regulatory inclusion expires

31/08/2029

GB LERAP status

None

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Greece

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

01/12/2026

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes

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

Also used in

USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₁₀H₂₀O₂

Canonical SMILES

CCCCCCCCCC(=O)O

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

GHVNFZFCNZKVNT-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C10H20O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10(11)12/h2-9H2,1H3,(H,11,12)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
capric acid	-

General status

Biopesticide type

Insecticide; Acaricide; Herbicide; Plant Growth Regulator; Other substance

Other bioactivity & uses

Biocide; Preservative; Disinfectant

Substance groups

Animal-derived substance

Minimum active substance purity

980 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EFSA dossier 2026: lead 1 mg kg⁻¹; Arsenic 1 mg kg⁻¹; Mercury 1 mg kg⁻¹

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Non-selective, burn-down effect

Insecticide behavioural & physiological effects

Substance source

Capric acid occurs as glycerol ester in animal fats

Uses

General weed control; Surface sanisation

Farming system suitability

CAS RN

334-48-5

Alternative/old CAS RN

52627-73-3

EC number

206-376-4

CIPAC number

886

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

2969

Molecular mass (Da)

172.26

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

decanoic acid

IUPAC name

n-decanoic acid

CAS name

n-decanoic acid

Global Governance status: Listed (✓) under

UK Poisons List Order 1972	Rotterdam Convention	Montreal Protocol
XNo The Poisons List Order 1972	XNo Rotterdam Convention	XNo Montreal Protocol
Stockholm Convention	OSPAR	EU Water Framework Directive
XNo Stockholm Convention	XNo OSPAR	XNo EU Water Framework Directive

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Forever chemical

Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP)

Type I

Type II

Other status information

E570; FEMA=2364; FLAVIS=08.011; Risk of drift; Some applications may be approved under the GB Biocide Products Regulations but expire August 2025.

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

None allocated

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

UNM

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

A white, semi-opaque, soft crystalline solid with an unpleasant odour

Related substances & organisms

fatty acids (generic C7-C20)

fatty acids unsaturated potassium salts (generic C7-C18)

caprylic acid

caprylic acid potassium salt

linoleic acid

acypetacs

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

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

Certis Biologicals
SBM Development
Westbridge

Example products using this active

Selected: Herbiclean AL (Open in PFC)

Selected: Homeplate (Open in PFC)

Example products using this substance as a possible coformulant

Formulation and application details

Typically formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate

Commercial production

Produced for commercial applications via the oxidation of the primary alcohol decanol

Impact on climate of production and use

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C at pH 7 (mg l⁻¹)

497

Moderate

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

250000

n-Heptane

250000

p-Xylene

250000

Methanol

250000

Acetone

Melting point (°C)

Boiling point (°C)

270

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

112.8

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

1.00 X 10⁰¹

Calculated

Log P

1.00

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

5.43

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

60.0

Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable

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

2.0 X 10^-02

Non-volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

Volatile

From soil surface

Volatile

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

pH1.2: 209nm=50
pH3.6: 209nm=52
pH14: 218nm=16.8

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

33.1

(90% saturated soln)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (Aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

1.2

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

1.22

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

5.11

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU 2026 dossier Lab studies DT₅₀ (normalised) range 1.49-1.54 days, DT₉₀ (measured) range 4.95-5.11 days, Soils=4

Soil mineralisation

Aerobic (at 20 °C)

69.4-73.6% AR after 7 days

Anaerobic (at 20 °C)

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

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)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

4.0

Moderately mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

170

¹/_n

1.03

Notes and range

EFSA 2020 Dossier K_f range 0.0813.11 mL g⁻¹. K_foc range 8.1-569 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.97-1.16, Soils=4

pH sensitivity

Yes

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

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

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

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

56.4

Eisenia andrei corr

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

136

Folsomia candida corr

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

5406

mean of 6 plants mortality

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 200

Apis mellifera

Low

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 180.9

Apis mellifera

Low

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) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹, Std lab test

15.2

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Moderate

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹, Std lab test

> 29.83

Typhlodromus pyri

Moderate

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Beneficial insects (Butterflies)

Contact

Notes

Oral

Notes

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

> 2.69

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

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

1.62

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

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

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

> 26.2

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

0.76

Daphina magna as EC10

Moderate

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 (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹) (7 d, static ErC₅₀)

> 29.5

Lemna gibba

Low

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹) (72 hr, static ErC₅₀)

28.7

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Low

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹) (72 hr, static NOEC)

0.342

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Moderate

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

Regulatory Threshold Levels (RTLs)

Note: These RTLs have been calculated using the regulatory approach used in the European Union and based on ecotoxocity values in the PPDB.

Species group

RTL

Notes

Mammals

200

Worst case of acute and chronic mammals

Birds

No data

No data for acute and chronic birds

Soil organisms

11.28

Worst case of acute and chronic earthworms

Terrestrial plants

540.6

Worst case of non-target plants vegetative vigour and seedling emergence

Pollinators

3.618

Worst case of contact and oral honeybees

Arthropods

7.6

Worst case of parasitic wasps and predatory mites

Fish

0.0269

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic fish

Aquatic invertebrates

0.076

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic aquatic invertebrates

Aquatic plants

0.342

Worst case of free-floating plants, rooted plants, acute and chronic algae

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

Low (class I)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

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

> 2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5

Rat

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Negligible risks

Occupational

Negligible risks when label precaustions followed

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Completely metabolised rapidly in the gut

Health issues

Specific human health issues (hazard-based)

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

General human health issues

Capric acid is not a substance of toxicological concern when used for plant protection

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes
Not highly flammable; Not expected to auto-ignite
Not oxidising or explosive

CLP classification 2013

Health: H315, H319
Environment: H412

WHO Classification

Not listed

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

capric acid

French

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

kaprinsyre

Record last updated:

05/11/2026

Contact:

aeru@herts.ac.uk

Please cite as:

Tzilivakis, J., Lewis, K.A., Green, A. and Warner, D.J. (2026) A decade of growth and impact of the Pesticide Properties Database (PPDB). Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 32(6), 1104-1129. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2026.2702066

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

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