Tea tree oil |
Last updated: 31/10/2024
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(Also known as: tea tree extract) |
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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Tee Tree Oil is a complex mixture of chemicals and can be exploited for its fungicidal and antimicrobial properties |
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Powdery mildew; Damping-off, Crown rot; Grey mould; Root rot |
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Potatoes; Carrots; Herbs; Cucumbers; Tomatoes; Peppers; Watermelon; Grapes, Ornamentals |
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Current |
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1920s, start of production |
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Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Myrtales; Family: Myrtaceae |
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Not approved |
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Withdrawn |
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None |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Approved |
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Poland/Belgium |
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31/01/2026 |
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No |
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Yes |
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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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Fungicide |
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Antimicrobial |
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Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
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Natural; Complex mixture |
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Via the disruption of the structural and functional integrity of bacterial membrane, inhibiting the formation of germ tubes, or mycelial conversion and by suppressing superoxide production |
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Extracted for the Tea tree shrub (Melaleuca alternifolia), a species of tree or tall shrub in the myrtle family |
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The oil is produced through steam distillation of the leaves and terminal branchlets of the tea tree shrub (Melaleuca alternifolia) |
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Crop protection |
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Powdery mildew; Damping-off, Crown rot; Grey mould; Root rot |
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Potatoes; Carrots; Herbs; Cucumbers; Tomatoes; Peppers; Watermelon; Grapes, Ornamentals |
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68647-73-4 |
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285-377-1 |
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tea tree oil |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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46 |
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Pale straw coloured liquid comprised of a complex nd variable mixture of botanicl chemicals including terpinen-4-ol (35 to 45%), gamma-terpinene (14 to 28%), alpha-terpinene (6 to 12%) and 1,8-cineole (0 to 10%) |
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Timorex Gold |
Syngenta |
Timorex Act |
Summit Agro USA |
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39 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data |
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0.925 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data |
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Readily biodegradable |
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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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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 2000 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data Rat |
Low |
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> 2000 |
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Colinus virginianus |
Low |
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> 331 |
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Apis mellifera |
Low |
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> 66.0 |
Apis mellifera |
Moderate |
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5.67 |
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Moderate |
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1.45 |
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Daphnia magna |
Moderate |
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7.21 |
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data Desmodesmus subspicatus |
Moderate |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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> 2000 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data Rat |
Low |
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2000 |
E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 4 = Verified data Rat |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
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 |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
No data found |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
?Possibly, status not identified |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
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Tea tree oil is not a substance of serios toxicological concern when used as a pesticide but is an irritant |
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Flammable Use foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical for fire fighting Portect against electrostatic charges Not explosive or oxidising IMDG Transport Hazard Class 3 |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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UN1993 |
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tea tree oil |
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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 |