SULFOTEP

Chemical properties

Yellowliquid. Slightly soluble in water; soluble in most organic solvents.

Chemical properties

Sulfotep is a yellow mobile liquid. Garliclike odor.

The Uses of SULFOTEP

Sulfotep is used to control aphids, thrips, mites and whiteflies in glasshouses by fumigation. It also used to control sciarid and phorid flies in mushrooms.

The Uses of SULFOTEP

An organophosphate pesticide that is an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

The Uses of SULFOTEP

Insecticide; miticide.

Definition

ChEBI: Sulfotep is an organic thiophosphate and an organothiophosphate insecticide. It has a role as an EC 3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase) inhibitor, an EC 3.1.1.8 (cholinesterase) inhibitor, an acaricide and an agrochemical. It is functionally related to a dithiodiphosphoric acid.

General Description

Tetraethyl dithiopyrophosphate and compressed gas mixture is a liquid charged with a gas. Tetraethyl dithiopyrophosphate is a yellow liquid. Its vapor is heavier than air. SULFOTEP is lethal by skin absorption and inhalation. Prolonged exposure of the containers to fire or heat may result in their violent rupturing and rocketing.

Reactivity Profile

Organothiophosphates, such as TETRAETHYL DITHIOPYROPHOSPHATE, 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. SULFOTEP is incompatible with the following: Strong oxidizers, iron [Note: Corrosive to iron.] .

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption; cholinesterase inhibitor; use may be restricted. Questionable carcinogen.

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion, skin contact, inhalation, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and intravenous routes. A cholinesterase inhbitor type of insecticide. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of POx and SOx. See also PARATHION.

Potential Exposure

Sulfotep is used in greenhouse fumigant formulations for control of aphids, spider mites; thrips, whiteflies, etc.

Environmental Fate

Soil. Cleavage of the molecule yields diethyl phosphate, monoethyl phosphate and phosphoric acid (Hartley and Kidd, 1987).
Chemical/Physical. Emits toxic oxides of sulfur and phosphorus oxides when heated to decomposition (Lewis, 1990).

Metabolic pathway

Sulfotep and related compounds may be formed photochemically from a number of phosphorodithioate and phosphorothioate insecticides including azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, malathion, methidathion and phosalone (Abdelbagi and Gaston, 1998). Since sulfotep has a rather high mammalian toxicity, this may be of some toxicological sigruficance. Sulfotep is transformed in the environment via oxidative desulfuration to the highly active anti-cholinesterase compounds monosulfotep and tetraethyl pyrophosphate. It is deactivated by hydrolysis to O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate and diethyl phosphate.

Shipping

UN1704 (Sulfotep) Tetraethyl dithiopyrophosphate, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

Degradation

Sulfotep is relatively slowly hydrolysed with DT₅₀ values of 10.7,8.2 and 9.1 days at pH values 4,7 and 9 respectively (PM).

Toxicity evaluation

Sulfotep is formulated as fumigant. The acute oral LD₅₀ for rats is about 10 mg/kg. Inhalation LC50 (4 h) for rats is about 0.05 mg/L air. NOEL (2 yr) for rats is 10mg/kg diet (0.5mg/kg/d). ADI is 1 μg/kg b.w. Sulfotep is activated by oxidative desulfuration to tetraethyl monothiopyrophosphate and pyrophosphate in the environment. Sulfotep administered to rats is quickly eliminated. The major elimination product is diethyl hydrogen phosphorothioate.

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. Hydrolyzes very slowly in aqueous solution. Attacks some forms of plastic, rubber and coating. Corrosive to iron.

Waste Disposal

Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform with EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and 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. Incineration with added flammable solvent in furnace equipped with afterburner and alkaline scrubber.