Sodium chloride

Sodium chloride	Last updated: 24/10/2024
(Also known as: common salt; rock salt; table salt)

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
Environmental fate High alert: Drainflow: Very mobile	Ecotoxicity Low alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Low; Fish acute ecotoxicity: Low; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Low; Earthworms acute ecotoxicity: Low	Human health Moderate alert: Genotoxic; Reproduction/development effects; Neurotoxicant

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A inorganic salt for use as a post-emergence total herbicide, defoliant and dessicant

Example pests controlled

Total vegetation control including difficult weeds such as morning glory, ragweed

Example applications

Non-crop areas including roadsides, fenceways, ditches, etc

Efficacy & activity

Appearance and life cycle

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

Taxonomic classification

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Open ended

GB LERAP status

No UK approval for use as a pesticide

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Open ended

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

Known to be also used in the following countries

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

NaCl

Canonical SMILES

[Na+].[Cl-]

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/ClH.Na/h1H;/q;+1/p-1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Biopesticide type

Herbicide, Other substance

Other bioactivity & uses

Preservative

Substance groups

Inorganic compound

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Non-selective, phytotoxic

Substance source

Sodium chloride is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. It is found in seawater, brine deposits and rock salt.

Substance production

Sodium chloride is mass-produced by evaporation of seawater or brine from brine wells and salt lakes. Mining of rock salt is also a major source

Uses

Total vegetation contro, ussed as a herbicide, defoliant and dessicant

Target pests

All vegetation including difficult weeds such as including morning glory, ragweed

Target host

Non-crop areas including roadsides, fenceways, ditches, etc

Farming system suitability

CAS RN

7647-14-5

EC number

231-598-3

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

013905

PubChem CID

5234

Molecular mass

58.44

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

sodium chloride

IUPAC name

sodium chloride

CAS name

sodium chloride

Other status information

Approved via EU & UK 'Basic substance' legislation (Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009)

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

None allocated

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

None allocated

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

White crystals

Formulations

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Example products

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

357000

High

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

Melting point (°C)

900

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

3.47 X 10^-01

Calculated

Log P

-0.46

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

2.17

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

1.00 X 10^-10

Low volatility

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

2.53 X 10⁰³

Volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

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

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

Sodium chloride rapidly degrades to its naturally occurring ionic form.

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)

Very mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 3000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 3000

Passer domesticus

Low

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

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

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

> 2500

Eisenia foetida

Low

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

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

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)

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)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

> 6094

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

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

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

> 10000

Danio rerio

Low

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

> 3310

Daphnia magna

Low

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

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

> 500

Ceriodaphnia dubia

Low

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

5867

Chironomus dilutus

Low

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

2133

Chironomus dilutus 20 day

Low

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

> 3950

Lemna minor 7 day

Low

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

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 3000

Rat

Low

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

10000

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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)

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

Occupational

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

No data found

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Possible kidney toxicant at very high doses
May cause pulmonary edema and respiratory arrest at very high doses

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Hygroscopic

CLP classification 2013

Health: H315, H318, H319, H335, H373

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

sodium chloride

French

chlorure de sodium

German

Natriumchlorid

Danish

natriumklorid

Italian

cloruro di sodio

Spanish

cloruro de sodio

Greek

Polish

chlorek sodu

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	24/10/2024
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