Sulfometuron-methyl is a herbicide. It has a moderate aqueous solubility, is non-volatile and, based on its chemical properties, is mobile and may be expected to leach to groundwater. It is not generally persistent in soil systems but may be persistent in aquatic systems under certain conditions. It has a low mammalian toxicity and has a high potential to bioaccumulate. It is moderately toxic to most aquatic species, honeybees and earthworms but is less toxic to birds.
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: GUS: High leachability
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
3300
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Acetone
-
650
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Ethyl acetate
-
240
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Toluene
-
15000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Dichloromethane
-
Melting point (°C)
204
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
-
-
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
3.09 X 10-01
Calculated
-
Log P
-0.51
G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
-
-
-
Data type
-
-
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.48
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
5.2
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
-
Weak acid
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
7.3 X 10-11
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
1.1 X 10-18
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
Non-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)
24
G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET. Available online but no longer updated. (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ (field)
78.5
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
Moderately persistent
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
Manufacturers published field studies DT₅₀ range 7-150 days, typically 3-4 wks
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix
Value
7.4
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Note
Forest foliage, n=1
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
Stable
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Stable
Note
DT₅₀ 18 days at pH 5, stable pH 7 to pH 9
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Water 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
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
-
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
Moderately mobile
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
85
Notes and range
Literature values range 63-130 mL g⁻¹
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
-
-
-
Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
3.92
Calculated
High leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
1.09 X 1000
Calculated
-
Note
-
Potential for particle bound transport index
Medium
Calculated
-
Potential for loss via drain flow
Moderately mobile
Calculated
-
Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk
-
-
-
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
Low risk
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
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