Overview

Propoxur is a non-systemic carbamate insecticide introduced in 1959 and manufactured by Bayer and registered for use in the United States by the EPA and the state of California (#CDPR and #EXTOXNET). It is highly toxic and used against many different pests and in many different combinations.

Chemical Description

Propoxur is a white powder that is soluble in water (#INCHEM).

Overview
Molecular Weight: 209.2
Melting Point: 85.5 Degrees Celsius
Vapor Pressure: 3.75E-5 mm Hg at 28.9 Degrees Celsius
Henry's Law Constant: 1.859 g/L (water)
Chemical Formula: C ₁₁ H ₁₅ NO ₃
Absorption: dermal, inhalation, ingestion

Information Retrieved from (#CDPR).

Use

Propoxur is used in many different formulations. According to #INCHEM, the breakdown is as follows:
"Wettable powders 50%; dusts 2%, granules, oils, emulsifiable, concentrates 200 g/litre, pressurized sprays, smokes, baits of different, concentrations."

It is often combined with other pesticides including azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, dichlorvos, disulfoton, or methiocarb (#EXTOXNET). Propoxur is used in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings including on dog-collars, wasp, bee, and cockroach spray, and in room foggers (#CDPR and #EXTOXNET).
It is often used on cane, cocoa, fruit, grapes, maize, rice, sugar, vegetables, cotton, lucerne, forestry, and ornamentals (#EXTOXNET) to combat jassids, bugs, aphids, flies, mosquitos, cockroaches, ants, millepedes and other household pests (#INCHEM).

Health Effects

Main Article: Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Propoxur is a highly toxic carbamate insecticide both acutely and chronically (#CDPR and #EXTOXNET). It is also thought to be a carcinogen, cardiovascular or blood toxicant, reproductive toxicant, and, due to its cholinesterase inhibiting properties, a neurotoxicant (#Scorecard). It is not thought to be bioaccumulative (#INCHEM).

Environmental Effects

Propoxur is moderately persistent in the environment and it does not bind well to soil so it easily leaches into groundwater (#EXTOXNET and #CDPR). It is highly soluble in water but, because of its weak low persistence in soil, it is only a moderately persistent contaminant (#EXTOXNET).
In respect to organisms, propoxur very highly toxic to honeybees, many bird species (though the toxicity varies by species), and moderately toxic to aquatic organisms (#EXTOXNET).

Trade Names

Arprocarb
Bay 9010
Baygon
Bayer 39007
Bifex
Blattanex
Brifur
Bolfo
BO Q 5812315
ENT 25671
Invisi-Gard
OMS 33
PHC
Pillargon
Prentox
Propogon
Proprotox
Propyon
Rhoden
Sendran
Suncide
Tendex
Tugen
Unden
Undene

External Links

References

Pesticide Action Network. "Pesticide Database - Chemicals - Propoxur". 2007. Accessed 9-25-07.

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

World Health's Organization International Program on Chemical Safety (INCHEM). "Data Sheets on Pesticides No. 24 - Propoxur. December 1976. Accessed 9-25-07.

California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). "Propoxur - Risk Characterization Document". January 2, 1997. Accessed 9-25-07.