Acifluorfen-sodium (Ref: RH 6201 )	Last updated: 24/07/2024
(Also known as: acifluorfene)

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SUMMARY

Acifluorfen-sodium is a herbicide that is used to control annual broad-leaved weeds. It is highly soluble in water and in many organic solvents. It is volatile. It may leach to groundwater under certain conditions. It is moderately persistence in soil systems and can be very persistent in aquatic systems. It has a moderate mammalian toxicity and there is some concern regarding its potential for bioaccumulation. It is a recognised irritant. Acifluorfen-sodium is moderately toxic to birds, honeybees and most aquatic organisms. It is relatively non-toxic to earthworms.

Data alerts

The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.

Environmental fate	Ecotoxicity	Human health
Environmental fate High alert: Persistent; GUS: High leachability	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health Moderate alert: Mammals acute toxicity: Moderate; Possible Carcinogen; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	A nitrophenyl ether herbicide used for the pre-emergence control of annual broad-leaved weeds
Example pests controlled	Buckwheat; Carpetweed; Cocklebur; Lady's thumb; Morning glory; Moonflower; Nighshade; Pigweed; Waterhelp; Foxtails
Example applications	Soybeans; Peanuts; Beans and peas: Rice
Efficacy & activity	-
Availability status	Current
Introduction & key dates	1980, first introduced USA

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status	Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires	Expired
UK LERAP status	No UK approval for use as a pesticide

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status	Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur	Not applicable
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires	Expired
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)	Not applicable
Listed in EU database	Yes (as the acid)
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States	ATAustria BEBelgium BGBulgaria CYCyprus CZCzech Republic DEGermany DKDenmark EEEstonia ELGreece                   ESSpain FIFinland FRFrance HRCroatia HUHungary IEIreland ITItaly LTLithuania LULuxembourg                   LVLatvia MTMalta NLNetherlands PLPoland PTPortugal RORomania SESweden SISlovenia SKSlovakia
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries	ISIceland NONorway

Additional information

Also used in	Australia, USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism	None
Chemical formula	C₁₄H₆ClF₃NNaO₅
Canonical SMILES	C1=CC(=C(C=C1C(F)(F)F)Cl)OC2=CC(=C(C=C2)[N+](=O)[O-])C(=O)[O-].[Na+]
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	RVULBHWZFCBODE-UHFFFAOYSA-M
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C14H7ClF3NO5.Na/c15-10-5-7(14(16,17)18)1-4-12(10)24-8-2-3-11(19(22)23)9(6-8)13(20)21;/h1-6H,(H,20,21);/q;+1/p-1
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
acifluorfen	Parent

General status

Pesticide type	Herbicide
Substance groups	Nitrophenyl ether herbicide
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Selective contact action being absorbed by foliage and roots. Inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) - cell membrane disruption
CAS RN	62476-59-9
EC number	263-560-7
CIPAC number	497
US EPA chemical code	114402
PubChem CID	44072
CLP index number	604-041-00-0
Molecular mass	383.6
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	sodium 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate
IUPAC name	sodium 5-(2-chloro-α,α,α-trifluoro-p-tolyloxy)-2-nitrobenzoate
CAS name	sodium 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate
Other status information	Chemical subject to PIC regulations; PAN Bad Actor
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	-
Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)	E
Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)	14
Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)	Not applicable
Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)	Not applicable
Examples of recorded resistance	Amaranthus rudis, Euphorbia heterophylla
Physical state	Creamy-white to brown solid
Related substances & organisms	acifluorfen acifluorfen-methyl fluoroglycofen lactofen

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	Rohm and Haas United Phosphorus Rhone-Poulenc
Example products using this active	Blazer Status Tackle 2AS Andover Herbicide
Formulation and application details	Usually supplied as a soluble concentrate but also available as ready-to-use formulations. Often used in conjunction with an adjuvant.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		620700	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	High
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		53700	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Octanol	-
		641500	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Methanol	-
		0.5	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Hexane	-
Melting point (°C)		276	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		Decomposes before boiling	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Degradation point (°C)		274	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Flashpoint (°C)		-	-	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	1.58 X 1001	Calculated	-
	Log P	1.2	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Low
Fat solubility of residues	Solubility	-	-	-
	Data type	-	-	-
Density (g ml⁻¹)		1.55	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		3.86	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
		Weak acid
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		0.01	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		6.18 X 10-09	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Non-volatile
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)		-	-	-

Degradation

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
General biodegradability		-
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)	DT₅₀ (typical)	59	M3 M = GLEAMS Model database (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems). Dataset no longer available. 3 = Unverified data of known source	Moderately persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	154	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Persistent
	DT₅₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	Literature data DT₅₀ range 108 days (silt) - 200 days (clay loam); Other sources: DT₅₀ 14.0 days (DW3)
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7	Value	Stable	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Stable
	Note	Stable for more than 2 yrs in water
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	Stable	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Stable
	Note	Stable for more than 2 yrs in water
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)	-	-	-
	Koc (mL g⁻¹)	-
	Notes and range	-
Freundlich	Kf (mL g⁻¹)	5.22	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Moderately mobile
	Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)	364
	1/n	0.92
	Notes and range	Mean of several mineral soils; Literature range 44-684 mL kg⁻¹
pH sensitivity		-

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		3.15	Calculated	High leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	4.07 X 10-01	Calculated	-
	Note	-
Potential for particle bound transport index		Medium	Calculated	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		Moderately mobile	Calculated	-
Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk		-	-	-
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	279	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	Threshold for concern
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite	Major/Minor fraction	Estimated maximum occurrence fraction	Notes
acifluorfen (Ref: RH 5781)	Major fraction	-	-

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		1540	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other 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)		325	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Colinus virginianus	Moderate
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		1800	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Eisenia foetida	Low
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)	100	C4 C = AGRITOX dataset. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data	Moderate
	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)		17	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss	Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		< 1.5	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 Pimephales promelas 35 day	Moderate
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		77	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna	Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		2.8	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 Americamysis bahia	Moderate
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)		260	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Raphidocelis subcapitata	Low
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)		1540	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	Moderate
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		2000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rabbit	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		6.91	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat 4 hr	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints		-	-	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
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		List II	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	Low risk to Europeans as no longer approved for use
	Occupational	Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact
MRLs	European	EU MRL pesticide database
	Great Britain	GB MRL Register
	Notes	-
Drinking Water Standards		-	-	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate		-	-	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor ?Possibly, status not identified 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 ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative No data found 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 No data found ✓Yes, known to cause a problem No data found Eye irritant Phototoxicant   ✓Yes, known to cause a problem No data found
General human health issues		May causes irreversible eye damage Liver toxicant US EPA - likely to be a human carcinogen at high doses; US Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program listed carcinogen

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	Corrosive Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable
CLP classification 2013	Health: H302, H315, H318 Environment: H400, H410
WHO Classification	III (Slightly hazardous)
UN Number	-
Waste disposal & packaging	-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	acifluorfen-sodium
French	acifluorfene sodium
German	Acifluorfen
Danish	acifluorfen
Italian	acifluorfen
Spanish	acifluorfen sodico
Greek	-
Polish	acifluorfen sodowy
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	-
Norwegian	-

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Record last updated:	24/07/2024
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