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Pesticide Use Statistics Phosphamidon

Phorate

updated Jul 08, 2010 by Maria Mergel

[This article has been tagged for development.]

Phorate is a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide used to control control sucking and chewing insects, leafhoppers, leafminers, mites, some nematodes, and rootworms in pine forests and on root and field crops, including corn, cotton, coffee, some ornamental and herbaceous plants, and bulbs (#EXTOXNET).

Contents

  1. #Chemical Description
  2. #Uses
  3. #Health Effects
  4. #Environmental Effects
  5. #Regulation
  6. #External Links
  7. #References

    Topic editor


    Sean Foley
    Lead author:
    Sean Foley
    Managing Group:
    Chemicals Group



    Just the facts

    Physical Information

    Name: Phorate

    Synonyms: himet; o,o-Diethyl s-(ethylthio) methyl phosphorodithioate

    Chemical Formula: C 7 H 17 O 2 PS 3

    Use: insecticide

    Source: synthetic chemistry

    Recommended daily intake: none

    Absorption: dermal, inhalation, ingestion

    Toxicity/symptoms: highly toxic

    Chemical Structure

    ----
    Structure retrieved from the American Chemical Society.


Chemical Description

Phorate is a relatively stable clear to yellow liquid at room temperature (#INCHEM).

Health Effects

Main Article: Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Phorate's health effects are consistent with other organophosphates and cholinesterase inhibitors.

Environmental Effects

Phorate is highly toxic to birds, fish, and bees (#EXTOXNET). It is moderately persistent in the soil - a half-life of 2-173 days depending on the conditions. It binds relatively well to soil and is not neither highly mobile or highly soluble in water so it would reach water sources mainly through run-off and not leaching (#EXTOXNET).


Regulation

Most of the uses for phorate have been canceled and it is labeled as "HIGHLY TOXIC - POISON" chemical and as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) which allows only certain applications for use (#PAN and #EXTOXNET). It is not listed as a UNEP Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) and is registered for use in around half of the world's countries including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and India among others (#PAN - Pesticide Registration Status).

References


Pesticide Action Network (PAN). "Pesticide Registration Status - Phorate". 2007. Accesed 9-25-07.


Pesticide Action Network. "PAN Pesticide Database - Phorate". 2007. Accessed 9-25-07.


Extension Toxicology Network. "Pesticide Information Profile - Phorate". June, 1996. Accessed 9-25-07.


World Health Organization's International Program on Chemical Safety. "Data Sheets on Pesticides no. 75 - Phorate". 1988. Accessed 9-25-07.

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