(Also known as: endosulfan II; alpha-thionex; beta-thiodan; endosulfan 2)
SUMMARY
Beta-endosulfan is an insecticide used to control sucking, chewing and boring insects in a variety of crops. Little is known about this particular isomers environmental fate, ecotoxicology or impact on human health or how these differs from endosulfan.
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
 
 
Human health High alert: Endocrine disrupter
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An insecticide and acaricide used to control sucking, chewing and boring insects
PAN Bad Actor Chemical; POP candidate; OSPAR pfa/soc; WFD priority substance; Chemical subject to PIC regulations; Subject to the provisions of the UK Poisons Act 1972
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
EU Directive 2008/105/EC EQS surface waters: annual average 0.005 µg l⁻¹; max measured 0.01 µg l⁻¹
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
Bayer CropScience
Example products using this active
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Formulation and application details
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ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
0.45
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Melting point (°C)
208
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
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Boiling point (°C)
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-
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Degradation point (°C)
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-
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Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
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Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
6.76 X 1003
Calculated
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Log P
3.83
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
High
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
Soluble
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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Data type
Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies
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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Density (g ml⁻¹)
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-
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Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
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-
-
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Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
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-
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Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
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-
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Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost
From plant surface
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-
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From soil surface
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-
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Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
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-
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Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
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Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
General biodegradability
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Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
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-
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DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
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-
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DT₅₀ (field)
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-
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DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
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-
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DT₉₀ (field)
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-
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DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
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-
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Note
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Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix
Value
2.1
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
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Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.28-3.35 days, 4 field crops, fruit & leaves, n=7
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix
Value
1.8
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 4 = Verified data
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Note
Published literature RL₅₀ range 0.9-2.6 days, 2 field crops, foliage, n=2
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
-
-
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Note
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Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
-
-
-
Note
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Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
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-
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Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
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-
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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.
Can be absorbed following ingestion, inhalation and skin contact
MRLs
European
EU MRL pesticide database 
Great Britain
GB MRL Register 
Notes
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Drinking Water Standards
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Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)
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Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
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Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
No
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
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
XNo, known not to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
No data found
No data found
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
No data found
No data found
 
General human health issues
Highly toxic May cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incoordination, tremor, mental confusion, hyperexcitable state
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Incompatible with strong oxidising and reducing agents May decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
CLP classification 2013
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WHO Classification
II (Moderately hazardous)
UN Number
UN2811
Waste disposal & packaging
Packaging Group II (moderate danger)
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
Chemically stable under standard ambient conditions
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