E X T O X N E T
Extension Toxicology Network
A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of
Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, and
University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided
by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact
Assessment Program.
| |
Pesticide
Information
Profile
|
Sethoxydim
Publication Date: 9/93
|
|
TRADE OR OTHER NAMES
Some trade names include Aljaden, Alloxol S, BAS 9052, Checkmate, Expand,
Fervinal, Grasidim, Nabu, NP-55, Poast, Tritex-Extra and Vantage.
REGULATORY STATUS
Products containing sethoxydim must bear the signal word "Caution" on the
label (1).
INTRODUCTION
Sethoxydim is a selective postemergence herbicide used to control annual
and perennial grass weeds in broad-leaved vegetable, fruit, field and
ornamental crops. It also has indoor uses. It is available in emulsifiable
concentrate formulations (1).
TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ACUTE TOXICITY
Sethoxydim is moderately toxic by ingestion (2), and not toxic by dermal
absorption (4). It causes skin and eye irritation. Inhalation of dusts or
vapors can cause irritation of the throat and nose (2). Other symptoms of
poisoning include incoordination, sedation, tears, salivation, tremors, blood
in the urine and diarrhea (4). Sethoxydim does not cause allergic skin
reactions (4).
The oral LD50 for sethoxydim in rats is 3,200 to 3,500 mg/kg. The dermal
LD50 in rats is > 5,000 mg/kg (1). The 4-hour inhalation LC50 for
sethoxydim in rats is > 6.28 mg/l (1).
CHRONIC TOXICITY
Long-term contact with sethoxydim can cause redness and swelling of the
eyes or skin (2). No adverse effects were observed in mice given 0, 2, 6, or
18 mg/kg/day for 2 years (6). In another 2-year study with mice fed doses as
high as 162 mg/kg/day, the NOEL for non-carcinogenic effects was 18 mg/kg/day
(6). The NOEL in a 1-year dog feeding study was 8.86 mg/kg/day for males and
9.41 mg/kg/day for females. The highest dose tested was 110 mg/kg/day for
males and 129 mg/kg/day for females. Doses above the NOEL produced equivocal
evidence for the occurrence of anemia (6).
Reproductive Effects
When pregnant rabbits were fed 0, 40, 160 or 480 mg/kg/day, there were
decreased litter size, low fetal weights, severe maternal weight loss,
increased fetal resorptions, spontaneous abortions, and maternal deaths at the
480 mg/kg level. The NOEL for this study was 160 mg/kg/day (6).
Teratogenic Effects
No developmental effects were observed at any dose level when pregnant
rats were fed 0, 40, 100 or 250 mg/kg/day (6).
Mutagenic Effects
Several tests for mutagenicity of sethoxydim have produced negative
results (6).
Carcinogenic Effects
No carcinogenic effects were observed at any dose level when mice were
fed 0, 6, 18, 54 or 162 mg/kg/day for 2 years (6).
Organ Toxicity
No information was found.
Fate in Humans and Animals
No information was found.
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Effects on Birds
Sethoxydim is of low toxicity to birds. The acute oral LD50 for
sethoxydim in mallard ducks is > 2,510 mg/kg. Its dietary LD50 in mallards
and bobwhite quail is > 5,620 ppm (8).
Effects on Aquatic Organisms
Sethoxydim is moderately toxic to trout and weakly toxic to carp (1).
The LC50 for sethoxydim in bluegill sunfish is 265 mg/l and 170 mg/l in
rainbow trout (8). Its LC50 in Daphnia magna, a small freshwater crustacean,
is 78.1 ppm (8).
Effects on Other Animals (Nontarget species)
Sethoxydim has low toxicity to wildlife (4). It is non-toxic to bees
(1).
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Some degradation occurswith UV and sunlight (4).
Breakdown of Chemical in Soil and Groundwater
Sethoxydim has a weak tendency to adsorb to soil particles (4).
Laboratory soil leaching tests have suggested that sethoxydim could leach in
soil. However, in field tests, sethoxydim did not leach below the top 4
inches of soil and it did not persist (8).
On soil, photodegradation of sethoxydim takes less than 4 hours (4). The
product Poast will photodegrade on oil surfaces with a half-life of
approximately 3.7 hours (8). Disappearance of sethoxydim is primarily due to
action by soil microbes. Its half-life on a loamy sand at pH 6.8 was 4 to 5
days, and on a loam soil at pH 7.4 was 11 days (4, 8).
Breakdown of Chemical in Surface Water
In water, photodegradation of sethoxydim takes less than 1 hour (4). The
product Poast is fairly stable to hydrolysis, with a half-life of about 40
days at pH 7 and 25!C (8).
Breakdown of Chemical in Vegetation
Sethoxydim is absorbed rapidly by foliage and moves both upward and
downward in plants from the point of absorption. Sethoxydim was rapidly
metabolized in soybeans (4). The product Poast does accumulate in the
tissues of crops planted in fields after harvest of treated crops. Measured
residues were all below 0.066 ppm (8).
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND GUIDELINES
Sethoxydim is an yellowish-brown, oily liquid (1). Formulated products
containing sethoxydim are stable at normal temperatures and pressures, but
unformulated sethoxydim decomposes at room temperature (4). Thermal
decomposition of sethoxydim may release toxic or hazardous gases (2).
Workers handling sethoxydim should avoid contact of this material with
eyes, skin or clothing (2).
Exposure Guidelines:
No occupational exposure limits have been established for sethoxydim by
OSHA, NIOSH or ACGIH (2).
| ADI: | 0.09 mg/kg/day based on a NOEL of 8.86 in a 1-year dog feeding study and a 100 fold safety margin (6). |
Physical Properties:
| CAS #: | 74051-80-2 |
| Chemical name: | 2[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one |
| Chemical Class/Use: | cyclohexanone herbicide |
| Specific gravity: | 1.043 at 25 degrees C (technical) (4) |
| H20 solubility: | 4700 ppm at pH 7; 25 ppm at pH 4 (1) |
| Solubility in other solvents: | readily soluble in most organic solvents; freely soluble in methanol, hexane and xylene (1) |
| Melting point: | > 194 degrees F (> 90 degrees C) (2) |
| Boiling point: | > 90 degrees C at 3 x 10-5 mm Hg (5) |
| Decomposition temperature: | unstable at room temperature if not formulated (4) |
| Vapor pressure: | 1.6 x 10-7 mm Hg at 25 degrees C (3, 4) |
| Koc: | 50 (7) |
BASIC MANUFACTURER
BASF Corp.
Agricultural Products Group
PO Box 13528
2505 Meridian Pkwy.
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3528
Review by Basic Manufacturer:
Comments solicited: April, 1993
Comments received:
REFERENCES
Meister, R.T. (ed.). 1992. Farm Chemicals Handbook '92. Meister
Publishing Company, Willoughby, OH.
Occupational Health Services, Inc. 1992 (Nov. 17). MSDS for
Sethoxydim. OHS Inc., Secaucus, NJ.
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1990
(Nov.). SCS/ARS/CES Pesticide Properties Database: Version 2.0
(Summary). USDA - Soil Conservation Service, Syracuse, NY.
WSSA Herbicide Handbook Committee. 1989. Herbicide Handbook of the
Weed Science Society of America, 6th Ed. WSSA, Champaign, IL.
British Crop Protection Council. 1983. The Pesticide Manual: A World
Compendium, 7th ed. Croydon, England.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. March 20, 1991. Pesticide
tolerances for 2[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-
2-cyclohexen-1-one. Federal Register 56 (54): 11677-8.
US Environmental Protection Agency. May 8, 1992. Pesticide
Environmental Fate One Line Summary: Sethoxydim. Environmental Fate and
Effects Division, US EPA, Washington, DC.
US Environmental Protection Agency. June 23, 1989. EEB Chemical
Profile: Sethoxydim. US EPA, Washington, DC.
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.
To Top
For more information relative to pesticides and their use in New York State, please contact the PMEP staff at:
| |
5123 Comstock Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-0901
(607) 255-1866
|
|
 |
This site is supported, in part, by funding from the
 |
Questions regarding the development of this web site should be directed to the
PMEP Webmaster
