demeton (Systox) Chemical Fact Sheet 2/85
CHEMICAL FACT SHEET FOR:
DEMETON
FACT SHEET NUMBER: 45
DATE ISSUED: FEBRUARY 27, 1985
1. DESCRIPTION OF CHEMICAL
- Chemical Name: Mixture of 2 isomers consisting of: O,O-diethyl
O-[2(ethylthio) ethyl] phosphorothioate and O,O-diethyl 5-[2
(ethylthio) ethyl] phosphorothioate.
- Common Names: demeton-O + demeton-S, mercaptophos, and mercaptophos
teolevy (USSR)
- Trade Name: Systox
- EPA Shaughnessy No.: 057601
- Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number: 8065-48-3
- Year of Initial Registration: July 15, 1955
- Pesticide Type: Systemic acaricide/insecticide
- Chemical Family: Organophosphate
- U.S. Producer: Mobay Chemical Corporation
2. USE PATTERNS AND FORMULATIONS
- Application sites: vegetable, field, orchard, and ornamental
(including greenhouse)
- Types of formulations: liquid and granular
- Types/methods of application: ground or air
- Efficacy review results, where conducted: N/A
3. SCIENCE FINDINGS
Chemical characteristics
- Light brown liquid; odor characteristic of sulfur compounds; soluble
in most organic solvents; subject to hydrolysis under alkaline
conditions; molecular weight 258.32.
Toxicological Characteristics
- Toxicity Category I by dermal route of exposure (14 mg/kg for male
rats and 8.2 mg/kg for female rats; Toxicity Category I by the oral
route of exposure (6.2 mg/kg for male rats and 2.5 mg/kg for female
rats); positive in mutagenicity studies in vitro in cells; data
gaps exist in the area of neurotoxicity, chronic toxicity, oncogeni-
city, teratogenicity, and reproduction. A gene mutation assay in
mammalian cells in culture and a chromosome aberration assay in
vivo are required to be performed to assess the mutagenic potential
of demeton.
Physiological and Biochemical Behavioral Characteristics
- Readily absorbed and translocated by plants; cholinesterase inhibitor.
Environmental Characteristics
- No data are available to assess the environmental fate of demeton; no
data are available to assess demeton's potential for contaminating
groundwater.
Ecological Characteristics
- Highly toxic to birds (7.19 mg/kg for mallard duck and 8.21 mg/kg for
pheasant); highly toxic to fish (0.1 ppm for bluegill sunfish and 0.6
ppm for rainbow trout); very highly toxic to freshwater invertebrates
(0.014 ppm for Daphnia pulex); special tests to monitor the resi-
dues of demeton on avian feed items and aquatic sites are required;
interim labeling to protect endangered species to be imposed in time
for the 1986 growing season if the generic (cluster) analysis has not
been completed.
Tolerance Assessments
- Refer to the attached table for the list of current tolerances
established for demeton; available data are not sufficient to conduct
a full tolerance assessment.
4. SUMMARY OF REGULATORY POSITION AND RATIONALE
- Use classification: All end-use products containing demeton shall
continue to be classified for restricted use.
- Formulation or geographical restrictions: None
- Unique warning statements required on labels: end-use (EP) products
require the use of protective clothing, rubber gloves, rubber
overshoes, and goggles; reentry of 48 hours; and a crop rotation
restriction.
5. SUMMARY OF MAJOR DATA GAPS
Toxicology:
82-1 90-day feeding, rodent, non-rodent June, 1986
90-day feeding, rat, thiol sulfoxide January, 1986
82-2 21-day dermal toxicity, rabbit August, 1985
81-7 Delayed neurotoxicity, hen August, 1985
83-1 Chronic toxicity March, 1985
83-2 Oncogenicity December, 1987
83-3 Teratogenicity December, 1985
83-4 Reproduction December, 1987
84-2 Gene mutation assay in mammalian cells August, 1985
in culture
Chromosome aberration assay in vivo August, 1985
85-1 General metabolism March, 1986
Environmental Safety:
70-1 Special test - monitoring of residues on September, 1986
avian feed items
70-1 Special test - monitoring of residues in September, 1986
aquatic sites
70-3 Acute toxicity to estuarine and marine September, 1986
organisms
Environmental Fate:
161-1 Hydrolysis March, 1985
161-2 Photodegradation in water March, 1985
161-3 Photodegradation in soil March, 1985
161-4 Photodegradation in air August, 1985
162-1 Aerobic soil metabolism June, 1986
162-2 Anaerobic soil metabolism June, 1986
162-3 Anaerobic aquatic metabolism June, 1986
163-1 Leaching and adsorption/desorption March, 1985
163-2 Volatility (lab) August, 1985
164-1 Soil dissipation June, 1986
164-3 Forestry March, 1987
165-1 Rotational crops (confined) March, 1987
165-2 Rotational crops (field) March, 1988
165-4 Accumulation in fish February, 1988
132-1 Reentry data March, 1988
201.1 Droplet size spectrum testing and drift February, 1987
field evaluation
Residue Chemistry:
171-4 Residues in livestock February, 1987
171-4 Residues analytical method February, 1987
171-4 Storage stability February, 1987
171-4 Residue data on crops February, 1987
Product Chemistry:
61-2 Description of beginning materials and March, 1985/
manufacturing process August, 1985
61-3 Discussion of the formation of impurities -do-
62-1 Preliminary analysis March, 1985/
August, 1985
62-2 Certification of ingredient limits -do-
62-3 Analytical methods to verify certified limits -do-
63- Physical/chemical properties -do-
6. CONTACT PERSON AT EPA
William H. Miller (PM-16)
Insecticide-Rodenticide Branch (TS-767)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
(703)557-2600
DISCLAIMER:
THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS CHEMICAL INFORMATION FACT SHEET
IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT TO BE USED TO FULFILL
DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR PESTICIDE REGISTRATION AND REREGISTRATION.
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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