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 Moderate alert: Genotoxic; Reproduction/development effects
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A herbicide for control of annual and perennial weeds in cereals and other crops. Can also be a pesticide transformation product.
Example pests controlled
Annual and perennial broad-leaved weeds including Charlock, Wild radish, Dandylion, Capeweed, Fat hen and Hedge mustards
Selective, systemic with translocation. Synthetic auxin.
CAS RN
1713-12-8
EC number
216-989-9
CIPAC number
2
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
15578
CLP index number
607-051-00-3
Molecular mass
256.72
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
butyl (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetate
IUPAC name
butyl [(4-chloro-o-tolyl)oxy]acetate
CAS name
butyl 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetate
Other status information
Potential groundwater contaminant
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
UK Environment Agency non-statutory standard for the protection of freshwater aquatic life pH <7: 12 µg l⁻¹, pH >7 80 µg l⁻¹ as annual average; pH <7: 120 µg l⁻¹, pH >7 800 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc. Data as the acid. For salt water 80 µg l⁻¹ as annual average, 800 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc. Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.002 mg l⁻¹
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
BASF
Bayer Environ
Dow AgroSciences
DuPont
Headland Agrochemicals
Luxan
Nufarm
Scotts
Example products using this active
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Formulation and application details
Often supplied as soluble concentrate, wettable powder or emulsifiable concentrate
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Melting point (°C)
-
-
-
Boiling point (°C)
-
-
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
-
-
-
Log P
-
-
-
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
Insoluble
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
-
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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Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
-
-
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Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
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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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Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
-
-
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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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DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
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DT₅₀ (field)
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DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
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DT₉₀ (field)
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DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
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-
-
Note
-
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)
-
-
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Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
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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.
Decay in stored produce DT₅₀
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
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-
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Koc (mL g⁻¹)
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Notes and range
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Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
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Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
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1/n
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Notes and range
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pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
-
-
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SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
Cannot be calculated
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-
Note
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Potential for particle bound transport index
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-
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Potential for loss via drain flow
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Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
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Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
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Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
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Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
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NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
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Marine bivalves
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-
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
General
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)
High (class III)
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Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
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Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
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Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
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-
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Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
-
-
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ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
0.05
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
as MCPA
-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
0.15
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
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
as MCPA
-
Dermal penetration studies (%)
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-
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Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464
List II
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Exposure Routes
Public
May be absorbed through the skin
Occupational
Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact
MRLs
European
EU MRL pesticide database 
Great Britain
GB MRL Register 
Notes
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Drinking Water Standards
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-
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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
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A3 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 3 = Negative
;
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
;
E2 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 2 = Mixed/ambiguous results
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
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
?Possibly, status not identified
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
 
General human health issues
Highly toxic May cause hypotension Possible liver toxicant
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1 Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable
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