SULPROFOS

Chemical properties

Tan colored liquid; sulfide odor. Soluble in organic solvents; insoluble in water.

Chemical properties

Sulprofos is a tan colored liquid.

The Uses of SULPROFOS

Sulprofos is used to control Lepidoptera, thrips and other insects in cotton, soya, tobacco, vegetables and tomatoes.

The Uses of SULPROFOS

Insecticide.

The Uses of SULPROFOS

Sulprofos is a component of an inventive pesticide water dispersible granule used for preventing and controlling scale insect of tobacco and has advantages of obvious synergistic effect, environmental protection, good pest control effect, less usage amount and low insecticide resistance.

Definition

ChEBI: Sulprofos is an organic thiophosphate, an organothiophosphate insecticide and an organosulfur compound. It has a role as an EC 3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase) inhibitor and an agrochemical. It is functionally related to a 4-(methylsulfanyl)phenol.

General Description

Tan-colored liquid with a sulfide-like odor.

Reactivity Profile

Organothiophosphates 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.

Hazard

Cholinesterase inhibitor. Questionable carcinogen.

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion. Moderately toxic by skin contact. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of POx and SOx.

Potential Exposure

A potential danger to those involved in the manufacture, formulation, and application of this insecticide that is used for control of certain lepidopterous, dipterous, and hemipterous insects on cotton, etc.

Environmental Fate

Biological. From the first-order biotic and abiotic rate constants of sulprofos in estu- arine water and sediment/water systems, the estimated biodegradation half-lives were 19.5–61.6 and 3.5–19 days, respectively (Walker et al., 1988).
Photolytic. When sulprofos was exposed to sunlight as deposits on cotton foliage, glass surfaces and in aqueous solution, the insecticide degraded rapidly (half-life <2 days). Irradiation of sulprofos in aqueous solution using UV light (λ >290
Chemical/Physical. Emits toxic oxides of sulfur and phosphorus when heated to decomposition (Lewis, 1990).

Metabolic pathway

Sulprofos is an organophosphorus insecticide possessing a 4-(methylthio) phenyl group and as such its metabolic fate has much in common with fenthion with which it also has the phosphorothioate (P=S) group in common. The major route of sulprofos metabolism is by oxidation to the sulfoxide and more slowly to the sulfone. The additional route of bioactivation is through oxidative desulfuration to form the sulprofos oxon and all five oxidative metabolites (sulprofos sulfoxide, sulprofos sulfone, sulprofos oxon, sulprofos oxon sulfoxide and sulprofos oxon sulfone) have been detected in rats. Degradative metabolism by hydrolysis or oxidative dearylation to the phenols occurs rapidly. Stage II metabolism in mammals involves the rapid conjugation of the phenolic dearylation products. The fate of the S-propyl phosphorodithioate group has not apparently been reported.

Metabolism

Major metabolic routes are by oxidation to the sulfoxide and sulfone and oxidative desulfuration to the oxons. Detoxification by dearylation to the phenols occurs rapidly. Sulprofos is degraded in soil with a half-life ranging from a few days to several weeks, depending on the soil type.

Shipping

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

Degradation

The half-lives in aqueous solution at pH values 4,7 and 9 were 26,151 and 51 days, respectively. Its DT₅₀ was less than two days when a thin film was exposed to sunlight. Ivie and Bull (1976), examined the photodecomposition in sunlight of sulprofos on cotton leaves, glass surfaces and aqueous solutions. The major metabolites were sulprofos sulfoxide (2) and sulfone (3), with minor amounts of sulprofos oxon sulfoxide (4) and the three possible phenolic hydrolysis products (5, 6 and 7). Photodecomposition is thus via thiooxidation, oxidative desulfuration and cleavage of the P-O-aryl group as shown in Scheme 1. A large number of minor photolysis products which could not be identified were also formed.

Toxicity evaluation

The acute oral LD₅₀ for rats is 176–304 mg/kg. Inhalation LC50 (4 h) for rats is >4.1 mg/L air. NOEL (2 yr) for rats is 6 mg/kg diet (0.3 mg/kg/d). ADI is 3 μg/kg b.w. Sulprofos administered to rats is rapidly metabolized, and 92% of the dose is excreted within 24 h.

Incompatibilities

Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Strong oxidizers may cause release of toxic phosphorus oxides. Organophosphates, in the presence of strong reducing agents such as hydrides, may form highly toxic and flammable phosphine gas. Keep away from alkaline materials.

Waste Disposal

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.