Sulfometuron-methyl (Ref: DPX T5648)

Sulfometuron-methyl (Ref: DPX T5648)	Last updated: 26/08/2024
(Also known as: AIDS040010)

SUMMARY

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	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health Low alert

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

Used for the control of annual and perennial grasses and broad-leaved weeds in non-crop land and forestry.

Example pests controlled

Woody tree and shrub species

Example applications

Forestry; Non-crop land; Roadside weed management

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1982, introduced

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Not applicable

UK LERAP status

No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Not applicable

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Not applicable

Listed in EU database

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

Australia, USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₁₅H₁₆N₄O₅S

Canonical SMILES

CC1=CC(=NC(=N1)NC(=O)NS(=O)(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2C(=O)OC)C

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

ZDXMLEQEMNLCQG-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C15H16N4O5S/c1-9-8-10(2)17-14(16-9)18-15(21)19-25(22,23)12-7-5-4-6-11(12)13(20)24-3/h4-8H,1-3H3,(H2,16,17,18,19,21)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Herbicide

Substance groups

Sulfonylurea herbicide; Pyrimidinylsulfonylurea herbicide

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Broad spectrum and inhibits cell division. Inhibits plant amino acid synthesis - acetohydroxyacid synthase AHAS

CAS RN

74222-97-2

EC number

277-780-6

CIPAC number

610

US EPA chemical code

122001

PubChem CID

52997

CLP index number

No data found

Molecular mass

364.38

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

methyl 2-{[(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)carbamoyl]sulfamoyl}benzoate

IUPAC name

methyl 2-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-ylcarbamoylsulfamoyl)benzoate

CAS name

methyl 2-(((((4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino)carbonyl)amino)sulfonyl)benzoate

Other status information

Potential groundwater contaminant

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Cuscuta campestris, Hordeum glaucum

Physical state

Off-white coloured solid

Related substances & organisms

sulfometuron

Formulations

Property

Value

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

DuPont

Example products using this active

Formulation and application details

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

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

244

Moderate

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

3300

Acetone

650

Ethyl acetate

240

Toluene

15000

Dichloromethane

Melting point (°C)

204

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

3.09 X 10^-01

Calculated

Log P

-0.51

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.48

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

5.2

Weak acid

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

7.3 X 10^-11

Low volatility

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

1.1 X 10^-18

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)

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

78.5

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

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

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

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

Moderately mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Literature values range 63-130 mL g⁻¹

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (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

Based on LogP < 3

Low risk

CT₅₀ (days)

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

$Click here for further information on Major/Minor fraction$

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

sulfometuron

Major fraction

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 5000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

Rat

(ppm diet)

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

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 5000

Anas platyrhynchos

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)

> 1000

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)

> 100

Low

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

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)

> 12.5

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

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

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

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

> 12.5

Daphnia magna

Moderate

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

6.1

Daphnia magna Hatching

Moderate

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

> 0.2

Ceriodaphnia dubia LC₅₀

Moderate

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

> 44.8

Americamysis bahia

Moderate

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 - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

0.00045

Lemna gibba

High

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

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)

> 5000

Rat

Low

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

2000

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

5.3

Rat

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

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

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

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

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

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Possible liver toxicant

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Prevent generation of dust or mists

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

U (Unlikely to present an acute hazard)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

sulfometuron-methyl

French

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

sulfometuron metylowy

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	26/08/2024
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