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Albendazole
Last updated: 02/05/2024
(Also known as: SLA 3505; SKF-62979)

SUMMARY
A potent anthelmintic insecticide. It has a low aqueous solubility. Little has been published regarding its behaviour in the environment or its toxicity to fauna and flora. It is moderately toxic to humans and may cause reproduction or fertility problems. .
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A broad spectrum benzimidazole antiparasitic veterinary drug
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1977, registered UK
Examples of veterinary uses
Primary use is as a topical pesticide for livestock for control of parasites in particular various worm infestations.
Examples of species treated
Domestic and farm animals including cattle & sheep
Approval status
VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)
Approved
EU Regulatory approval status
-
Chemical structure
Isomerism
-
Chemical formula
C₁₂H₁₅N₃O₂S
Canonical SMILES
CCCSC1=CC2=C(C=C1)N=C(N2)NC(=O)OC
Isomeric SMILES
-
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
HXHWSAZORRCQMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C12H15N3O2S/c1-3-6-18-8-4-5-9-10(7-8)14-11(13-9)15-12(16)17-2/h4-5,7H,3,6H2,1-2H3,(H2,13,14,15,16)
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name Relationship Link
albendazole -
General status
Veterinary substance type
Insecticide, Antiparasitic, Anthelmintic
Substance groups
Benzimidazole insecticide
Minimum active substance purity
>98%
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
Causes degenerative alterations in parasite cell walls, inhibiting tubulin polymerization which results in the loss of cytoplasmic microtubules.
Molecular targets
[Tubulin alpha-3 chain, Antagonist], [Tubulin beta-2C chain, Antagonist], [Fumarate reductase flavoprotein subunit, Antagonist]
CAS RN
54965-21-8
EC number
259-414-7
CIPAC number
None allocated
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
2082
Therapeutic Class
Antiparasitic products, insecticides & repellents: Anthelmintics
ATCvet Code
QP52AC11
Controlled Drug?
No
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification
Allowed substance (Table 1: Ruminants)
Molecular mass
265.33
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
-
IUPAC name
methyl N-(6-propylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate
CAS name
5-(propylthio)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl, methyl ester carbamic acid
Other status information
-
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
-
Physical state
Off-white crystalline powder
Related substances & organisms
Formulations
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
Legal Class (GB/UK)
Example products (past and present) using this active
Albenil 2.5% SC Oral Suspension Virbac Ltd UK National authorisation (IC) Prescription only medicine to be authorised by suitably qualified person (POM-VPS)
Albacert Oral suspension Chanelle Animal Health Ltd UK National authorisation (IC) Prescription only medicine to be authorised by suitably qualified person (POM-VPS)
Endospec SC Oral Suspension Bimeda Animal Health Ltd UK National authorisation Prescription only medicine to be authorised by suitably qualified person (POM-VPS)
Tramazole Oral Suspension Tulivin Labs UK National authorisation (IC) Prescription only medicine to be authorised by suitably qualified person (POM-VPS)
Formulation and application details
Usually supplied as a solution for oral use
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
0.56
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications
4 = Verified data
Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Melting point (°C)
209
F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
4 = Verified data
-
Boiling point (°C)
- - -
Degradation point (°C)
- - -
Flashpoint (°C)
- - -
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
1.86 X 1001 Calculated -
Log P
1.27
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Low
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
- - -
Data type
- - -
Density (g ml⁻¹)
- - -
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
10.26
R4 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications
4 = Verified data
-
pKa(2) = 2.80
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
- - -
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
- - -
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)
- - -
Refractive Index
- - -
Environmental release
Environmental release can occur via four main routes (i) point source releases at production sites, (ii) releases at administration location, (iii) direct releases from treated animals as parent and metabolites in manure and slurries, and (iv) inappropriate waste disposal sites
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
- - -
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₅₀ (field)
- - -
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₉₀ (field)
- - -
Note
-
Manure DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
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)
- - -
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)
-
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-mobile
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
17650
Notes and range
Literature range 7800-27500
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
251
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-mobile
Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
16233
1/n
0.92
Notes and range
US data: Kf range 109.6-501.2 mL g⁻¹, Kfoc range 7800-27500 mL g⁻¹, 1/n range 0.77-1.21, Soils=3
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
- - -
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
- - -
CT₅₀ (days)
- -
Known soil and groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites
Metabolite name and reference
Aliases
Formation medium / Rate
Estimated maximum occurrence fraction
albendazole sulfoxide
Note: C12H15N3O3S
- Human (Liver); Livestock -
albendazole sulfone
Note: C12H15N3O4S
- Human (Liver); Livestock -
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
1320
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
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)
- - -
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
- - -
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
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
- - -
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)
86.0
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
> 0.036
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Danio rerio EC₅₀ Embryo
High
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.024
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
High
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
0.017
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Daphnia magna
Moderate
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
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)
- - -
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
- - -
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)
1320
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
- - -
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
Intravenous LD₅₀ = 265 mg kg⁻¹
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
0.005
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
2 = Unverified data of unknown source
-
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
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
Rapidly metabolised and lost via (probably) biliary excretion. Little is found in the urine.
F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
4 = Verified data
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
No data found
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
;
E1 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source)
1 = Positive
?Possibly, status not identified
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
Yes, known to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Eye irritant Phototoxicant  
Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found  
General human health issues
Mutagenic potential
Possible tetragenic effect
Possible liver toxicant
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
No information available
CLP classification 2013
Health: H315, H319, H335, H360, H361
Environment: H400, H410
WHO Classification
Not listed (Not listed)
UN Number
-
Waste disposal & packaging
-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
-
TRANSLATIONS
Language
Name
English
albendazole
French
albendazole
German
Albendazol
Danish
-
Italian
-
Spanish
albendazol
Greek
-
Polish
albendazol
Swedish
-
Hungarian
-
Dutch
-
Norwegian
-

Record last updated: 02/05/2024
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