Glufosinate (Ref: HOE 00661)

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SUMMARY Hazard alerts

The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) 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. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.

PHT: Environmental fate	PHT: Ecotoxicity	PHT: Human health	Highly Hazardous Pesticide
	Ecotoxicity Low alert: Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: Low; Bees acute oral ecotoxicity: Low Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health High alert: Reproduction/development effects; Neurotoxicant	Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP) Type I alert Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP) Type II alert

Description
A herbicide, usually used as the ammonium salt, for total vegetation control and to control a wide range of weeds and grasses
Example pests controlled
Annual broadleaved weeds including nightshade, lamb's quarters, ragweed, velvetleaf, wild mustard; Annual grasses including Barnyardgrass, bristly foxtail, witchgrass
Example applications
Oilseed rape; Potatoes; Maize; Soybean; Non-cropped areas
Efficacy & activity
-

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status
Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires
Not applicable
GB LERAP status
No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status
Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur
Germany/France
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires
Not applicable
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)
Not applicable
Listed in EU database
Yes
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
-

Chemical structure

Isomerism
Glufosinate exhibits stereoisomerism due to the presence of a chiral carbon atom at the C-2 position, which is bonded to four distinct groups: an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and the hydroxymethylphosphinylbutyl side chain. This tetrahedral chirality results in enantiomerism, producing two isomers, designated as (R)- and (S)-glufosinate (also known as L- and D-glufosinate, respectively). The (S)-enantiomer (L-glufosinate, glufosinate-P) is significantly more active as a herbicide, however, commercial formulations are typically racemic.
Chemical formula
C5H12NO4P
Canonical SMILES
CP(=O)(CCC(C(=O)O)N)O
Isomeric SMILES
-
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
IAJOBQBIJHVGMQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C5H12NO4P/c1-11(9,10)3-2-4(6)5(7)8/h4H,2-3,6H2,1H3,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes

Common Name	Relationship	Link
glufosinate	-

General status

Pesticide type
Herbicide
Substance groups
Organophosphate herbicide
Minimum active substance purity
-
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
Non-selective, contact with some systemic action. Glutamine synthetase inhibitor: accumulates ammonium ions, inhibits photosynthesis.
CAS RN
51276-47-2
EC number
257-102-5
CIPAC number
437
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
4794
CLP index number
No data found
Molecular mass
181.13
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
(2RS)-2-amino-4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]butyric acid
IUPAC name
(2RS)-2-amino-4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]butyric acid
CAS name
2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid
Global Governance status: Listed (✓) under
UK Poisons List Order 1972 Rotterdam Convention Montreal Protocol XNo The Poisons List Order 1972 XNo Rotterdam Convention XNo Montreal Protocol Stockholm Convention OSPAR EU Water Framework Directive XNo Stockholm Convention XNo OSPAR XNo EU Water Framework Directive
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
-
Forever chemical
-
Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP)
	Type I
Yes [ C4 Criterion 4: Pesticide active ingredients that meet the criteria of reproductive toxicity Categories 1A and 1B of the Globally Harmonized System on Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (those with a CLP classification of H360) ]
Type II
Yes [ R04 Rule 4: Pesticide active ingredients that meet the criteria of reproductive toxicity Categories 1A and 1B of the Globally Harmonized System on Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (those with a CLP classification of H360) ]
Other status information
-
Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)
H
Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)
10
Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)
Not applicable
Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)
Not applicable
Examples of recorded resistance
-
Physical state
Solid
Related substances & organisms
glufosinate-ammonium glufosinate-P glufosinate-P-ammonium

Commercial

Property
Value
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1984, first introduced in Japan
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
Hoechst AG Bayer CropScience
Example products using this active
Basta SL18
Formulation and application details
Usually applied as the ammonium variant formulated as a water soluble concentrate
Commercial production
Glufosinate is commercially produced through microbial fermentation using genetically engineered Streptomyces species, followed by chemical purification and salt formation. The process begins with the cultivation of Streptomyces hygroscopicus or related strains that biosynthesise glufosinate as a secondary metabolite. Fermentation is carried out under controlled conditions in large bioreactors, where the organism produces the active compound over several days. After fermentation, the broth is filtered and the glufosinate is extracted and purified using ion-exchange chromatography and crystallisation.
Impact on climate of production and use
-

Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C at pH 7 (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Melting point (°C)
230	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)
-	-	-
Degradation point (°C)
-	-	-
Flashpoint (°C)
-	-	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
	P
1.10 X 10-04	Calculated	-
Log P
-3.96	V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	Low
Fat solubility of residues
	Solubility
-	-	-
Data type
-	-	-
Density (g ml−1)
-	-	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
		2	L2 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source	-
Strong acid, pKa(2)= 2.0; pKa(3)=9.8
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
-	-	-
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m3 mol−1)
-	-	-
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)
	-	-	-
	DT50 (lab at 20 °C)
	-	-	-
	DT50 (field)
	-	-	-
DT90 (lab at 20 °C)
-	-	-
DT90 (field)
-	-	-
DT50 modelling endpoint
-	-	-
Note
-
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
-	-	-
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT50 (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
	Value
-	-	-
Note
-
Water-sediment DT50 (days)
-	-	-
Water phase only DT50 (days)
-	-	-
Sediment 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)
	-	-	-
	Kfoc (mL g−1)
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-

Fate indices Known metabolites

None

Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
-	-	-
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l−1) for a 1 kg ha−1 or 1 l ha−1 application rate
	Value
Cannot be calculated	-	-
Note
-
Potential for particle bound transport index
-	-	-
Potential for loss via drain flow
-	-	-
Photochemical oxidative DT50 (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk
-	-	-
Bio-concentration factor
	BCF (l kg−1)
Low risk	Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Based on LogP < 3	Low risk
CT50 (days)
-	-

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD50 (mg kg−1)
1625	F4 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 ) 4 = Verified data 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)
-	-	-
Birds - Short term dietary (LC50/LD50)
-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg−1 bw d−1)
-	-	-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC50 (mg kg−1 dw soil)
-	-	-
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg−1 dw soil)
-	-	-
Soil micro-organisms
-	-	-
Collembola
	Acute LC50 (mg kg−1)
-	-	-
Chronic NOEC (mg kg−1)
-	-	-
Non-target plants
	Vegetative vigour ER50 (g ha−1)
-	-	-
Seedling emergence ER50 (g ha−1)
-	-	-
Honeybees (Apis spp.)
	Contact acute LD50 (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee−1)
	> 345	A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data as ammonium variant	Low
	Oral acute LD50 (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee−1)
	> 600	A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data as ammonium variant	Low
Unknown mode acute LD50 (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee−1)
-	-	-
Chronic
-	-	-
Notes
-
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)
-	-	-
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC50 (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC50 (mg l−1)
-	-	-
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)
-	-	-
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 (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l−1)
-	-	-
Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l−1)
-	-	-
Mesocosm study data
	NOEAEC mg l−1
-	-	-
NOEAEC mg l−1
-	-	-
Marine bivalves
-	-	-

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)
1625	F4 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 ) 4 = Verified data Rat	Moderate
Mammals - Dermal LD50 (mg kg−1 body weight)
-	-	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC50 (mg l−1)
-	-	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
-	-	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg−1 bw day−1)
0.021	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg−1 bw day−1)
0.021	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg−1 bw day−1)
-	-	-
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg−1 bw day−1)
0.0021	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
Dermal penetration studies (%)
-	-	-
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464
List I	-	-
Exposure Routes
	Public
-
Occupational
Risk of exposure acceptable under label recommendations for use for personal protection clothing and equipment
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 (hazard-based)
Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor XNo, known not to cause a problem A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; 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 ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data XNo, known not to cause a problem Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant ✓Yes, known to cause a problem XNo, known not to cause a problem ✓Yes, known to cause a problem Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser XNo, known not to cause a problem ?Possibly, status not identified No data found Eye irritant Phototoxicant   ?Possibly, status not identified No data found
General human health issues
No further information available

Handling issues

Property
Value and interpretation
General
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
CLP classification 2013
Health: H302, H312, H332, H360FD, H373
WHO Classification
II (Moderately hazardous)
UN Number
UN2783
Waste disposal & packaging
-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
-

Language
Name
English
glufosinate
French
glufosinate
German
Glufosinat
Danish
glufosinat
Italian
glufosinate
Spanish
glufosinato
Greek
-
Polish
glufosynat
Swedish
glufosinat
Hungarian
glufozinat
Dutch
glufosinaat
Norwegian
-

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