Chemical Properties
ethion is an odorless amber liquid. It is very sparingly soluble in water, but soluble
in most organic solvents. Ethion undergoes decomposition on heating or on burning
and produces toxic and corrosive fumes, including phosphorus oxides and sulfur oxides.
It is used for the control of crop pests and household insects. These include, but are not
limited to, aphids, mite, sticks, scales, thrips, leaf hoppers, maggots, leaf-feeding insects,
foliar-feeding larvae, and house fl ies. It may be used on a wide variety of food, fi ber, and
ornamental crops, including greenhouse crops, lawns, and turf. Ethion is often used on
citrus and apples. It is mixed with oil and sprayed on dormant trees to kill eggs and scales.
Occupational workers and the general public are exposed to ethion while working in
industries that manufacture ethion and when eating raw fruits or vegetables that have
been treated with ethion. There are no residential uses for ethion.
Uses
It is used as a pesticide.
Definition
ChEBI: An organic thiophosphate that is S,S'-methanediyl bis[dihydrogen (phosphorodithioate)] in which all the hydroxy groups have been converted to their corresponding ethyl esters respectively. Ethion is an organophosphate insecticide with inhibitory activity t
wards the enzyme acetylcholinesterase ( EC 3.1.1.7).
Uses
Insecticide; acaricide.
General Description
ETHION is a colorless or amber colored liquid with a disagreeable odor. ETHION is a wettable emulsifiable liquid. ETHION is toxic by inhalation, skin absorption, and/or ingestion. ETHION burns, but is not easily ignited. Fire may produce toxic and irritating fumes. ETHION is used as a pesticide.
Reactivity Profile
Organothiophosphates, such as ETHION, are susceptible to formation of highly toxic and flammable phosphine gas in the presence of strong reducing agents such as hydrides. Partial oxidation by oxidizing agents may result in the release of toxic phosphorus oxides.
Health Hazard
ETHION is very toxic; the probable oral lethal dose for humans is 50-500 mg/kg, which is between one teaspoonful and one ounce for a 150-lb person.
Fire Hazard
Shock can shatter the container, releasing the contents. Fire may produce irritating or poisonous gases. Decomposes above 302F. When heated to decomposition ETHION emits highly toxic fumes of oxides of sulfur and phosphorus. Hydrolyzed by acids and alkalies. Slowly oxidized in air.
Hazard
Cholinesterase inhibitor, use may be
restricted. Questionable carcinogen.
Health Hazard
Ethion is highly to moderately toxic to animals and humans by the oral route. It causes toxicity
and poisoning with symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, excessive salivation,
severe depression, irritability, confusion, headache, blurred vision, fatigue, tightness in
chest, abnormal heart beat and breathing. On repeated exposures and in high concentrations,
ethion causes severe symptoms of poisoning. The symptoms of toxicity and poisoning
include, but are not limited to, pupillary constriction, muscle cramp, impaired memory
and concentration, disorientation, speech diffi culties, delayed reaction times, nightmares,
sleepwalking, loss of coordination, convulsions, unconsciousness/coma, and death.
Studies on laboratory animals and humans have not indicated any evidence of mutagenic,
teratogenic, or carcinogenic effects of ethion.
Potential Exposure
An organothiophosphate. A potential
danger to those involved in the manufacture, formulation
and application of this insecticide and acaricide. Ethion is a preharvest topical insecticide used primarily on citrus fruits,
deciduous fruits, nuts, and cotton. It is also used as a cattle
dip for ticks and as a treatment for buffalo flies
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Speed in removing material from skin
is of extreme importance. Shampoo hair promptly if contaminated. Seek medical attention immediately. If this
chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin
rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Effects may be delayed. Keep victim under observation
Shipping
UN3018 Organophosphorus pesticides, liquid,
toxic, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.
UN2783 Organophosphorus pesticides, solid, toxic, Hazard
Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials. UN2810 Toxic
liquids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-
Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required.
Incompatibilities
Decomposes violently when heated above
150℃. Mixtures with magnesium may be explosive.
Contact with oxidizers may cause the release of phosphorous oxides. Contact with strong reducing agents, such as
hydrides; may cause the formation of flammable and toxic
phosphine gas
Description
Ethion is a colorless to amber-colored, odorEthion is a colorless to amber-colored, odorless liquid. The technical product has a very disagreeableodor; Freezing/Melting point =-13 to -12℃. Molecularweight = 384.49; Boiling point = 164℃; Vaporpressure = 0.0000015 mmHg at 20℃; Flash point = 176℃.Hazard Identification (based on NFPA-704 M RatingSystem): Health 3, Flammability 1, Reactivity 0. Practicallyinsoluble in water; solubility = 0.0001%.
Waste Disposal
Do not empty into drains or
sewage system. Small amounts can be burned with
alkali. For larger amounts, the suggested method is
incineration with added solvent in furnace equipped with
afterburner and alkali scrubber. In accordance with
40CFR165, follow recommendations for the disposal of
pesticides and pesticide containers. Must be disposed properly by following package label directions or by contacting
your local or federal environmental control agency, or by
contacting your regional EPA office.
Agricultural Uses
: Insecticide, Acaricide: Not approved for use in EU countries. Not registered
for use in the U.S. There are 33 global suppliers.
Ethion is an organophosphate pesticide used to kill aphids,
mites, scales, thrips, leafhoppers, maggots, and foliar feeding
larvae. It may be used on a wide variety of food, fiber,
and ornamental crops, including greenhouse crops, lawns,
and turf. Ethion is a preharvest topical insecticide used
primarily for spraying on citrus fruits, deciduous fruits,
apples, nuts and cotton. It is also used as a cattle dip for
ticks and as a treatment for buffalo flies. It is mixed with
oil and sprayed on dormant trees to kill eggs and scales. It
is available in dust, emulsifiable concentrate, emulsifiable
solution, granular, and wettable powder formulations.
Trade name
AC 3422®; EACITHION®; EAQUA
ETHION®; EBLADAN®; ECOMMANDO
INSECTICIDE CATTLE EAR TAG®; EDRASTIC®;
EEMBATHION®; EETHANOX®; EETHIOL®;
EETHODAN®; EETHOPAZ®; EFMC-1240®;
EFOSFATOXE®; EFOSFONO 50®; EHYLEMOX®;
EITOPAZ®; EKWIT®[C]; EMITKILL®; ENAGATA®;
ENIA 1240®[C]; ENIAGARA 1240®[C]; ENIALATE®;
EPHOSPHOTOX E®; EPROKIL®[C]; ERHODIACIDE®;
ERHODOCIDE®; ERODOCID®; ERP-THION®;
ESENTRY®[C]; ESOPRATHION®; ETAFETHION®;
EVEGFRUFOSMITE®; EVEGFRU FOSMITE®
Environmental Fate
Biological. Ethion degraded in lagoonal sediments obtained at various sites in the
Indian River between Cape Kennedy and Vero Beach, FL. In 14 sediment samples enriched
with ethion, 8 exhibited iron sulfide (precursor hydrogen sulfide) production following 20
days of incubation at room temperature. The bacteria responsible for the degradation of
ethion, a reducing agent, was tentatively identified as Clostridium (Sherman et al., 1974).
Soil. The half-lives of ethion in an organic soil varied from 16 to 49 weeks; however,
repeated applications each spring resulted in increased residues of unreacted ethion (Chapman
et al., 1984).
Photolytic. Ethion in hexane did not exhibit absorption at UV wavelengths >260 nm
(Gore et al., 1971).
Chemical/Physical. Emits toxic fumes of phosphorus and sulfur oxides when heated
to decomposition (Sax and Lewis, 1987; Lewis, 1990).
The hydrolysis half-lives of ethion in a sterile 1% ethanol/water solution at 25°C and
pH values of 4.5, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 were 99, 63, 58, 24 and 8.4 weeks, respectively
(Chapman and Cole, 1982).
Metabolic pathway
Ethion is principally degraded in animals via hydrolysis which results
in P-S and C-S bond cleavage to give O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate
and O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate respectively. It is also oxidatively
desulfurated to its mono and dioxon forms.
Metabolism
The main biodegradation routes of ethion in animals are cleavage
of the P?S and C?S linkages to give O,O-diethyl
hydrogen phosphorothioate and O,O-diethyl hydrogen
phosphorodithioate, respectively. Oxidative desulfuration
to its mono- and dioxons also occurs.
storage
Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Storein a secure poison location. Prior to working with thischemical you should be trained on its proper handling andstorage. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from alkaline material, strong acids,and other incompatible materials listed above. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storagecontainers to process containers
Degradation
Ethion is hydrolysed by aqueous acid and alkalis. Its DT50 at pH value
9 was 390 days. It is slowly oxidised in air (PM). Ethion was photolysed
via an oxidative desulfuration mechanism affording the dioxon (2) when
it was irradiated with visible light in the presence of a photosensitising
dye (Crystal Violet). This oxidation was mediated by singlet
oxygen as evidenced by the reduced yield of 2 in the presence of singlet
oxygen scavengers such as diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (Vaidya et al., 1990)
(Scheme 1).
Toxicity evaluation
The acute
oral LD50 for rats is 208 mg/kg. Inhalation LC50 (4 h)
for rats is 0.45mg/L air. NOEL (2yr) for rats is
6 mg/kg diet (0.3 mg/kg/d). ADI is 2 μg/kg b.w.
