petroleum oils (Volck) Chemical Profile 4/85
petroleum oils
TRADE NAME(S): Volck oils (56)
FORMULATION(S): Some formulations are applied directly to sites but
usually oils are formulated with emulsifiers which
permit them to be diluted with water (1).
TYPE: Insecticide-miticide, also used as herbicides and
adjuvants.
BASIC PRODUCER(S): Chevron Chemical Co.
Ortho Agricultural Chemicals Div.
575 Market St.
P.O. Box 3744
San Francisco, CA 94105
Exxon Co., U.S.A.
P.O. Box 2180
Houston, TX 77001
FMC Corp.
Agricultural Chemical Group
2000 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
STATUS: General use
PRINCIPLE USES: Petroleum oils are used as (1) dormant sprays to
control scale insects, aphid eggs, spider mite eggs; (2) summer oils
against aphids, mites, and scale crawlers; (3) parasiticides for
application to livestock; (4) carriers for other pesticides; (5)
herbicides by themselves; (6) adjuvants to increase efficacy of
fungicides , particularly benomyl (56).
I. EFFICACY
Important Pests Controlled:
1. Dormant oils - Scale, aphids, pear psylla, mites, leafrollers,
mealybugs, and others, as well as the eggs of many species.
2. Summer oils - Scale, mites, mealybugs, whitefly, aphids, pear
psylla and others, as well as the eggs of many species (8a).
Considered of rather low toxicity to insects. However, no
resistance to oils has developed (8a).
II. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Prepared by the distillation and refinement of crude mineral oils,
those used as pesticides generally distill >310 C. They may be
classified by the proportion distilling at 335 C, namely: 'light'
(67-79%), 'medium' (40-49%), and 'heavy' (10-25%). Viscosity and
density vary according to the geographical area from which the crude oils
came; density rarely exceeds 0.92 g/cm3 at 15.5 C (62).
III. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
OSHA STANDARD: None established
NIOSH RECOMMENDED LIMIT: None established
ACGIH RECOMMENDED LIMIT: None established
TOXICOLOGY
No toxicological problem due to petroleum oils has been reported in
practice (62).
IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Little or no hazard to birds and beneficial insects. Some hazard
to fish and honey bees. Check label for information on phytotoxicity
(1).
Tests have shown there is no risk of polynuclear aromatic compounds
entering the food chain (62).
Approximate Residual Period: Relatively short (1).
V. EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES
No toxicological problem due to petroleum oils has been reported in
practice (62).
VI. FIRE AND EXPLOSION INFORMATION
To be developed.
VII. COMPATIBILITY
Varies with degree of refinement and other factors. Some oils are
carriers for other pesticides (1).
Sulfur sprays shouldn't follow an oil spray for two to three weeks.
Injury to rubber hose and rubber parts of spray equipment may result
(8a).
VIII. PROTECTIVE MEASURES
To be developed.
IX. PROCEDURES FOR SPILLS AND LEAKS
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, CALL, DAY OR NIGHT
(800) 424-9300
PESTICIDE TEAM SAFETY NETWORK/CHEMTREC
X. LITERATURE CITED
1. Harding, W.C. 1979. Pesticide profiles, part one: insecticides
and miticides. Univ. Maryland, Coop. Ext. Serv. Bull. 267.
30 pp.
8a. Thomson, W. T. 1976. Agricultural chemicals - book 1:
insecticides, acaricides, and ovicides. Revised ed. Thomson
Publ., Indianapolis, IN. 232 pp.
56. Farm Chemicals Handbook, 70th ed. 1984. R. T. Meister, G. L.
Berg, C. Sine, S. Meister, and J. Poplyk, eds. Meister
Publishing Co., Willoughby, OH.
62. The Pesticide Manual: A World Compendium, 7th ed. 1983. C.R.
Worthing, ed. The British Crop Protection Council, Croydon,
England. 695 pp.
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