E X T O X N E T
Extension Toxicology Network
A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of
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University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided
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Pesticide
Information
Profile
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Propetamphos
Publication Date: 9/93
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TRADE OR OTHER NAMES
Trade names for products containing propetamphos include Blotic, Safrotin
and Seraphos. Commercial products include aerosols, emulsified concentrates,
liquids, and powders.
INTRODUCTION
Propetamphos is an organophosphate, household and public health
insecticide designed to control cockroaches, flies, ants, ticks, moths,
fleas and mosquitoes on contact. Propetamphos works internally in the
insect where it promotes stomach activity. Its veterinary use is for skin
parasites such as cattle ticks and skin lice.
Propetamphos is a General Use Pesticide. Safrotin, an emulsified
concentrate (50% propetamphos), is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP).
Restricted Use Pesticides may be purchased and applied only by a certified
applicator.
TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ACUTE TOXICITY
Propetamphos is a moderately toxic compound that carries the signal word
WARNING on its label. Typical of other organophosphates, the compound
inhibits the family of enzymes called cholinesterases that are found
throughout living organisms. A common cholinesterase enzyme,
acetylcholinesterase, is found at the ends of nerve junctions. Others are
found in the brain and in the blood stream. See the TIB "Cholinesterase
Inhibition" for more information.
The oral LD50 for propetamphos in male rats ranges from 75 to 119
mg/kg. The acute dermal LD50 for the compound is 2,300 mg/kg. The acute
dermal LD50 for rats is 825 mg/kg (5). The LD50 of propetamphos indicates
that the compound is moderately toxic (ranging from 50 to 500 mg/kg), but the
trade products are labeled as slightly toxic because they contain relatively
small amounts of the compound.
CHRONIC TOXICITY
Rats fed propetamphos for 13 weeks exhibited no effects below the very
low dose of 0.2 mg/kg/day. Over a 77 week study the rats exhibited no
adverse effects at or below the very low dose of 0.05 mg/kg/day (9). In two
year feeding studies with rats, there were no effects noted at or below a
dose of 6 mg/kg in their diets. Dogs fed the compound for six months showed
no adverse effects at the dose of 0.05 mg/kg/day.
Reproductive Effects
A three-generation rat study, for which only an interim report is
available, produced no significant effects in litters at the low dose of 1
mg/kg/day (9).
Teratogenic Effects
A teratology study in rabbits was negative (9). No additional
information was available on the potential of the compound to produce birth
defects.
Mutagenic Effects
In studies with the fruit fly Drosophila and with mouse tissue,
propetamphos did not cause any chromosome damage. However, in mouse tissue,
the high dosage of the compound caused some mild chromosome damage. The
insecticide is a weak mutagen, but only at high concentrations (10).
Carcinogenic Effects
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, carcinogenicity tests
on rats and mice have been negative. Both studies were conducted over
relatively long periods of time (one with rats for two years and one with mice
for the lifetime of the animals). The top dose administered to the rats
was 6 mg/kg and the top dose administered to the mice was 21 mg/kg (15).
Organ Toxicity
A limited amount of information indicates that low doses of propetamphos
administered to mice over their lifetime can cause changes in the kidneys in
males and females (15). Rats fed low doses of the compound for two years
experienced hair loss.
Fate in Humans and Animals
Dogs sprayed with a very low concentration solution (0.05% active
ingredient) of propetamphos showed a moderate reduction in the cholinesterase
activity in the blood (about 20% reduction) after twenty-four hours. After
forty-eight hours, cholinesterase activity was reduced by the greatest extent
(nearly 30%). These levels are near or exceed the World Health Organization
level of 20% inhibition for enzyme activity reductions at which no further
exposure is recommended (11). The dogs suffered no clinical signs of toxicity
(7). Normal concentrations of the compound in trade products range from 1 to
2 percent.
The house fly, cockroach and mouse liver all demonstrated the ability
to breakdown the compound in the presence of water (hydrolysis) within the
organism (8).
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Tests on mallard ducks and on bobwhite quail indicate that the compound
is moderately toxic to wild birds. The acute oral LD50 for propetamphos in
the mallard ranges from 45 mg/kg to nearly 200 mg/kg. The dietary LC50 for
the compound in the mallard ranges from about 700 ppm to greater than 1,780
ppm. Both of these sets of values indicate the moderately toxic nature of
the compound to these species. The dietary LC50 of the compound in quail is
somewhat lower indicating that it is slightly more toxic. The LC50 for
propetamphos in the quail ranges from 138 ppm to 250 ppm. The EPA has
indicated that birds and mammals may be exposed to the compound near where it
has been applied. They state, however, that additional information on
application rates and its behavior after application are needed to assess its
potential to adversely affect wildlife (14).
The compound is highly toxic to bluegill sunfish and rainbow trout. The
LC50 values range from 0.13 mg/l for bluegill to 0.36 for rainbow trout to
3.7 mg/l for carp (moderately toxic range for carp). Aquatic
invertebrates may be quite susceptible to low concentrations of the compound.
The water flea, Daphnia magna, has an LC50 ranging between 0.68 ppb (14) and
14.5 ppb (15). A study conducted in 1990 found a 48 hour LC50 of 3.3 ppb for
this invertebrate (15).
The EPA has indicated that the use of the product Safrotin (an emulsified
concentrate) would not be likely to cause harm to endangered species if used
as specified on the label.
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
No data was available on the fate of propetamphos in soil or on plants.
In water, half of the initial amount of the compound disappeared within
eleven days at 24{C under strongly acidic conditions (pH 3). In a weakly
acidic solution (pH 6.0), half of the initial amount of the compound remained
after a year. In neutral water, the half-life was 47 days while in a basic
solution (pH 9.0) the half-life was 37 to 41 days (3). At cooler
temperatures, the half-life of the compound is expected to increase
significantly (greater than five years at 20 degrees C) (4). The toxic
effects of a 1 g/m2 spray persisted on a whitewashed wall for 32 weeks while
the toxic effects of a 0.1 g/m2 spray persisted for four weeks (6).
Exposure Guidelines:
| NOEL: | rat - 0.05 mg/kg/day |
| LEL: | rat - 1.0 mg/kg/day |
| RfD: | 0.005 mg/kg (OPP) |
Physical Properties:
| Common name: | propetamphos |
| CAS #: | 31218-83-4 |
| Chemical name: | (E)-1-methylethyl 3-[{(ethylamino)methoxyphosphinothioly}oxy]-2-butenoate |
| Chemical class: | organophosphate |
| Chemical use: | insecticide |
| Solubility in water: | 110 mg/l |
| Solubility in solvent: | acetone, chloroform, ethanol, hexane, miscible |
| Melting point: | colorless oil at room temperature |
| Vapor pressure: | 1.9 mPa at 20 degrees C |
BASIC MANUFACTURER
Sandoz Agro, Inc.
1300 E. Touhy Ave.
Des Plaines, IL 60018
Telephone: 708-699-1616
Review by Basic Manufacturer - Sandoz Agro Inc.:
Comments solicited: April, 1993
Comments received: May, 1993
Zoecon Corporation
12005 Ford Road
Suite 800
Dallas, Texas 75234
Telephone: 214-243-2321
FAX: 214-243-8527
Review by Basic Manufacturer - Zoecon:
Comments solicited: April, 1993
Comments received: May, 1993
REFERENCES
Scientific and Technical Information Network. 1988. CAS Online,
Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 1985-86.
Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control.
Meister, R.T. (ed.) 1992. Farm Chemicals Handbook, Meister
Publishing Co., Willoughby, OH.
Spencer, E.Y. 1981. Guide to the Chemicals Used in Crop Protection.
Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Canadian Government Publishing
Centre, Ottawa, Canada.
Worthing, C.R. (ed.) 1983. The Pesticide Manual, A World
Compendium.
The British Crop Protection Council, The Ravenham Press Limited,
Ravenham, Suffolk, England.
Rettich, F. 1980. Residual Toxicity of Wall-Sprayed
Organophosphates, Carbamates, and Pyrethroids to Mosquito Culex pipiens
molestus Forskal, J. of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology and
Immunology 24:110-117.
Sabnis, A.M., S. Jagadish, H.V. Jahagirdar and K. Jayakumar. 1982.
Evaluation of the Safety of Propetamphos as an Acaricidal Spray in Dogs,
Indian Vet. J. 59:510-514.
Wells, D.S., L.M. Afifi, N. Motoyama and W.C. Dauterman. 1986. In
Vitro Metabolism of Propetamphos by House fly, Cockroach, and Mouse Liver
Preparations, J. Agric. Food Chem. 34:79-86.
Federal Register. 1981. Tolerance for Pesticides in Food,
Propetamphos 46:170:43964-5.
Kumari, J. and N.B. Krishnamurthy. 1986. Mutagenicity Studies
with
Safrotin in Drosophila melanogaster and Mice, Envir. Research 41:44-52.
Garcia-Lopez, J.A. and M. Monteoliva. 1988. Geographic and
Environmental Changes in Human Erythrocyte AChE and Their Possible
Relationship with Environmental Pollution Caused by Organophosphate
Pesticides, Chemosphere 17:6:1237-1240.
Smith, G.J. 1993. Toxicology and Pesticide Use in Relation to
Wildlife: Organophosphates and Carbamate Compounds. C.K. Smoley. Boca
Raton, FL.
The Agrochemicals Handbook. 1991. the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Cambridge, England.
Environmental Effects Branch. 1981. United States Environmental
Protection Agency. Washington, DC.
Personal Communication. Zoecon Corporation. April 1, 1993.
Disclaimer: Please read
the pesticide label prior to use. The information contained at this web
site is not a substitute for a pesticide label. Trade names used herein
are for convenience only; no endorsement of products is intended, nor is
criticism of unnamed products implied. Most of this information is historical
in nature and may no longer be applicable.
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