54593-83-8

Gray to reddish-brown granular solid or colorless liquid. Mild sulfur-like odor.

Insecticide.

Insecticide: Chlorethoxyfos is a restricted use organophosphate insecticide registered for use in the U.S. on field corn, seed corn, sweet corn, and popcorn for the control of corn rootworms, wireworms, cutworms, seed corn maggots, white grubs, and symphylans. A U.S. EPA restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). Not listed for use in EU countries.

DPX-43898®; FORTRESS 2.5G; FORTRESS® 5G; SD 208304®

An organophosphate insecticide, chlorethoxyfos is a restricted use organophosphate insecticide registered for use in the United States on field corn, seed corn, sweet corn, and popcorn for the control of corn rootworms, wireworms, cutworms, seed corn maggots, white grubs, and symphylans. A United States Environmental Protection Agency Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). Not currently listed for use in EU countries.

Treatment for organophosphate poisoning consists of thorough decontamination, cardiorespiratory support, and administration of the antidotes atropine and pralidoxime. In cases of severe poisoning, diazepam, an anticonvulsant, should also be administered. Antidotes should be administered as prevention even if the diagnosis is in doubt. Speed in removing material from eyes and skin is of extreme importance. Eyes: Eye contact can cause dangerous amounts of these chemicals to be quickly absorbed through the mucous membrane into the bloodstream. Immediately and gently flush eyes with plenty of warm or cold water (NO hot water) for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Get medical aid immediately. Skin: Get medical aid. Dermal contact can cause dangerous amounts of these chemicals to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Wearing the appropriate PPE equipment and respirator fororganophosphate/carbamate pesticides, immediately flush skin with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Shampoo hair promptly if contaminated. The removed, contaminated clothing and shoes should be double-bagged and left in Hot Zone for later disposal by hazardous materials experts. Skin may also be decontaminated with diluted hypochlorite solution. Inhalation: Get medical aid. Do not contaminate yourself. Wearing the appropriate PPE equipment and respirator for organophosphate pesticides, immediately remove the victim from the contaminated area to fresh air. If the victim is not breathing, administer artificial respiration. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; give artificial respiration with the aid of a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen through bag/mask apparatus until medical help arrives. Do not leave victim unattended. Ingestion: Call poison control. Loosen all clothing. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If victim is unconscious or having convulsions, do nothing except keep victim warm. Get medical aid. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. In cases of ingestion, do not induce vomiting. If the victim is alert and asymptomatic, administer a slurry of activated charcoal at a dose of 1 g/kg (infant, child, and adult dose). A soda can and straw may be of assistance when offering charcoal to a child. In some cases you may be specifically instructed by poison control to induce vomiting by way of 2 tablespoons of syrup of ipecac (adult) washed down with a cup of water. Do NOT give activated charcoal before or with ipecac syrup.

UN2783 Organophosphorus pesticides, solid, toxic, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials. UN3018 Organophosphorus pesticides, liquid, toxic, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

May react violently with antimony(V) pentafluoride. Incompatible with lead diacetate, magnesium, silver nitrate. In the presence of strong reducing agents such as hydrides, organophosphates form highly toxic and flammable phosphine gas. Contact with oxidizers can cause the release of toxic oxides of phosphorus.

Destruction by alkali hydrolysis or incineration. May also be mixed with flammable solvent and sprayed into an incinerator equipped with after burner and scrubber. Containers must be disposed of properly by following package label directions or by contacting your local or federal environmental control agency, or by contacting your regional EPA office. Afterburner

ChEBI: Chlorethoxyfos is an organic thiophosphate, an organothiophosphate insecticide and an organochlorine insecticide. It has a role as an agrochemical and an EC 3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase) inhibitor.

According to an EPA summary, an 18 month study in which mice were given diets with chlorethoxyphos (doses not provided) was negative for carcinogenicity . A 2 year rat feeding (doses not provided) study showed a slight, nonsignificant increase in kidney tumors, and EPA concluded “the study was adequate for carcinogenicity testing” but that it was difficult to clearly interpret the data as showing either the presence or the absence of a carcinogenic effect .

Chlorethoxyfos undergoes extensive degradation and metabolism in water, soil, plants and animals. Cleavage of the P-O-tetrachloroethyl bond is the major degradation reaction of chlorethoxyfos. Dechlorination and oxidation of the tetrachloroethyl moiety yielded chloral, dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid as major degradation products. The extensive metabolism of chlorethoxyfos and its degradation products yielded ¹⁴CO2 and amino acids (glycine, serine, etc.). Oxidative desulfuration to yield chlorethoxyfos-oxon or O-de-ethylation reactions were not observed.

Chlorethoxyfos is susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis. The DT₅₀ values of chlorethoxyfos in buffers at pH 5, 7 and 9 at 25 °C were 72, 59 and 4.3 days, respectively (Hawhs et al., 1988a). The primary hydrolytic degradation reaction was the cleavage of the P-O-tetrachloroethyl bond. The major [¹⁴C-tetrachloroethyl]chlorethoxyfos degradation product observed in pH 5 and 7 aqueous solutions was chloral (trichloroacetaldehyde, 2), formed probably via the tetrachloroethanol (3) intermediate. In alkaline solution (pH 9), the principal product was dichloroacetic acid (4), formed probably via the dehydrochlorinated intermediate (5).
Chlorethoxyfos degraded slowly in aqueous solution when exposed to UV light at 25 °C [DT₅₀ ca. 27 days (continuous irradiation) vs. 19 days (dark control)] (Hawkins et al., 1988b). Cleavage of the P-O- tetrachloroethoxy bond yielded chloral (2) as the primary aqueous photolysis product.