United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Office of Pesticide Programs (H7508C)
Washington, DC 20460
ŁEPA Pesticide
Fact Sheet
540/FS-89-040
Name of Chemical: ROTENONE
ReaSOn for Issuance: Registration Standard
Date lssued:0ctober 1> 1988
Fact Sheet Number: 198
1. DESCRIPTION OF CHEMICAL
Common name:
Rotenone (and associated resins)
Chemical Name:
Other Chemical
nomenclature:
(2R, 6aS, 12aS)-1,2,6,6a,12,12a-hexahydro-
2-isopropenyl-8,9-dimethoxychromeno[3,4-b]
furo[2,3-h]chromen-6-one.
(R)-1,2-dihydro-8,9-dimethoxy-2-
(1-methylethenyl)[1]benzopyrano[3,4-b]
furo[2,3-h][1]benzopyran-6,12-dione
(9th Collective Index); 1,2,12,12a alpha-
tetrahydro-2a-isopropenyl-8,9-dimethoxy[1]
benzopyranol[3,4-b]furo[2,3-h][1]benzopyran-6
(6aH)-one (8th Collective Index); 1,2,12,12a-
tetrahydro-8,9-dimethoxy-2-(1-methylethenyl)-
[2R-(2a,6a,alpha, 12a alpha)]-(1Jbenzopyrano
(3,4-b)furo(2,3-h)-(1)benzopyran-6 (6aH)-one.
aker- root; Chem Fish; Derris; derris root;
Nicouline; Rotacide; Protex; Tubatoxin; and
tuba-root; ENT-133; Barbasco; Cube; Haiari;
Nekos; and Timbo.
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number: 83-79-4
Other Names:
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code
(Shaughnessy Number):
71003 - rotenone; 71004 - cube'
resins other than rotenone;
71001 - derris resins.
Year of Initial Registration: 1947
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Pesticide Type: Botanical
Prodi.cers: Penick-Bio UCLAF Corporation and Prentiss
Drug and Chemical Company
2. USE PATTERNS AND FORMULATION
Registered Uses:
Terrestrial Food Crops: Rotenone is registered for foliar
preharvest application to vegetables, berries, tree fruit,
nuts, forage crops, and sugarcane.
In addition to foliar applications, delayed dormant
applications are made to deciduous tree fruit.
Soil applications may be made to vegetable crops,
berries and tree nuts.
Terrestrial Nonfood Crop: Ornamentals, turf, shade trees,
and tobacco.
Greenhouse Food Crop: Vegetables.
Greenhouse Nonfood: Ornamentals.
Aquatic Non-Food Crop: Fish.
Domesticated Pets and Their Man-made Premises: Cats and Dogs.
Livestock: Cattle (Beef and Dairy), Goats, Horses, Sheep,
and Swine.
Household: Flying and crawling insects.
Commercial and Industrial Uses: Flying and crawling insects.
Methods of Application: Dusts, sprays, dips, and pumping
liquid formulations into bodies of water.
Annual Usage: 50,000 to 120,000 Ib
Predominant Usage: Aquatic (piscicide); agriculture
(potatoes, tomatoes, pears, apples); livestock, pets, and
household
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Formulations: The following formulations are registered
0.4-5% dusts; up to 5% wettable powders (WP); up to 0.55
Ib/gal emulsifiable concentrate (EC); up to 1.25% soluble
concentrate/liquid (SC/L); up to 5%; wettable powder/dust
(WP/D) up to 2.5%;emulsifiable concentrate (EC); up to
1.5%; soluble concentrate/lquid (SC/L); ready-to-use (RTU)
at 0.1%or less; and up to 0.1% pressurized liquid (PrL).
3- SCIENCE FINDINGS
Chemical/Physical Characteristics of Rotenone (purity 99.5%
or unspecified) and its associated resins:
Empirical Formula:
Molecular Weight: 394.4
Color: colorless (rotenone, purity 99.5%)
Physical State: Crystalline solid
Specific Gravity: 1.27 at 20" *C
Melting Point: 165-166 *C
Solubility: Water 0.00002 g/100 ml at 20 *C; Ethyl alcohol
0.2 g/100 ml at 20 *C; Carbon tetrachloride 0.6 g/100 ml
at 20 *C; Amyl acetate 1.6 g/100 ml at 20*C; Xylene 3.4
g/100 ml at 20 *C; Ethylene dichloride 33.0 g/100 ml at 20
*C; Chloroform 47.2 g/100 ml at 20 *C; Acetone 6.6 g/100
ml at 20 *C; Benzene 8.0 g/100 ml at 20 *C; Chlorobenzene
13.5 g/100 ml at 20*C.
Stability: Decomposes rapidly in organic solvents exposed to
light and air.
Toxicology Characteristics
i
Acute oral LD (rat): LDso =39.5 +/- 2.21 mg/kg
for female rats and 102 +/- 12.6 mg/kg for male
rats.
6 Month Feeding (dog): NOEL =0.4 mg/kg/day;
LEL = 2 mg/kg/day; levels tested 0, 0.4, 2, and
10 mg/kg/day.
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• 2 Year Feeding (rat): NOEL = 7.5 ppm; LEL = 37.5 ppm;
levels tested 0, 7.5, 37.5^ and 75 ppm.
" 2 Year Oncogenicity (rat): Negative for oncogenic
effects.
* 2 Year Oncogenicity (mouse): Negative for oncogenic
effects at doses below the MTD.
' Teratology (rat and mouse): No fetal effects at rates
below NOEL for adults.
* Reproduction Toxicity (rat): Reproductive NOEL = 37.5 ppm;
Maternal Toxicity NOEL =7.5 ppm; levels tested 0, 7.5,
37.5, and 75 ppm. No reproductive effects were noted.
* Gene Mutation: Rotenone did not induce gene mutations in
bacteria or yeast, but it increased the frequency of gene
mutations in mouse lymphoma cells in vitro without met
activation. No mutations were induced in mice in_ v\/o by
rotenone. No chromosomal effects were observed in"ra~Es
or mice treated with rotenone, and yeast treated with
rotenone did not show increased mitotic recombination or
mitotic gene conversion.
Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics
Mechanism of pesticidal action: Rotenone is an inhibitor
of oxidative phosphorylation.
Environmental Characteristics
Rotenone is rapidly degraded in soil and water with a
half-life of 1-3 days for both aerobic aquatic and
anaerobic aquatic soils.
Ecological Characteristics;
* Avian Acute Oral
Mallard 2200mg/kg
Pheasant 1680mg/kg
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Fish Acute
Rainbow Trout 22.5 ppb
Channel Catfish 2.6-2.8 ppb
Bluegill 22.5 ppb
Aquatic Invertebrate
Daphnia maona (Water fleas) 2.1 ug/1
(21 Day EC50)
TOLERANCES
Currently, use of rotenone or derris or cube' roots
on growing crops is exempt from the requirement of tolerences,
and neither tolerances nor exemptions exist for rotenone
residues in animal commodities.
4. SUMMARY OF REGULATORY POSITION
Rotenone is not being referred to Special Review because
none of criteria for special review were met.
Cranberry and piscicide uses are classified for restricted
use. Users must consult their State Fish and Game Agency
before applying rotenone products. Because of significant data
gaps on the effects of rotenone in upland game birds, waterfowl,
estuarine and marine organisms, a statement is required on all
end-use products giving directions for use for killing fish.
The statement requires mandatory consultation with state or
federal fish and wildlife agencies and will minimize effects on
non-target organisms.
The Agency is concerned about residues and metabolites of
rotenone and associated resins in/on plants and animals. Data on
the metabolism and nature of rotenone residues are needed to
reevaluate the tolerance exemption.
Water treated with rotenone must not be used as potable -
water or for irrigation of crops. A restriction against use of
rotenone within one half mile of potable water or irrigation
intakes must be included on labels of products intended for
use in cranberry bogs and for control of fish. This statement
will be an interim precaution until data on residues in water
are available.
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5. SUMMARY OF MAJOR DATA GAPS
Toxicology: Acute dermal toxicity, primary eye and skin
irritation studies, dermal sensitization study, histological
examination of the low and mid dose groups in the rat
chronic feeding study.
»
Environmental Fate: Hydrolysis, photodegradation in water
and on soil, aerobic soil and aquatic metabolism, leaching,
terrestrial and aquatic field dissipation, confined rotational
crop study, and irrigated crop accumulation.
Environmental Safety: Effects on upland game birds, waterfowl,
and estuarine and marine organisms.
Residue Chemistry: Plant, livestock, and fish metabolism;
method validation, residue data for each registered commodity
and their processed products; food handling establishment
residue data, and all product chemistry data.
6. LABELING REQUIREMENTS
Products containing rotenone intended for terrestrial (food
and non-food) and domestic outdoor uses must include the follow-
ing statement on the label:
"This pesticide is toxic to fish. Do not apply directly to
water or wetlands (swamps, bogs, marshes, potholes). Runoff and
drift from treated areas may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in
adjacent sites. Do not contaminate untreated water when disposing
of equipment washwater."
Products containing rotenone intended for use in cranberry
bogs must include the following statement on the label:
This pesticide is toxic to fish. Runoff and drift from treated
areas may be hazarddous to aquatic organisns in adjacent sites. Do
not contaminate untreated water when disposing of equipment washwaters.
Products containing rotenone intended for use to kill fish
fish must include the following statement on the label:
"This pesticide is toxic to fish. Fishkills are expected at
recomended rates. Consult your State Fish and Game Agency before
applying this product to public waters to determine if a permit
is needed for such an application. Do not contaminate untreated
water when disposing of equipment washwaters.
CONTACT PERSON AT EPA
Phillip Hutton, PM 17
Insecticide-Rodenticide Branch
Registration Division (TS-767C)
Washington, DC 20460
(703) 557 2690
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or
Paul Schroeder
PM Team 17
Insecticide-Rodenticide Branch
Registration Division (TS-767C)
Washington, DC 20460
(703) 557-2602
DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this Chemical
Information Fact Sheet is a summary only and may not be used to fulf
data requirements for pesticide registration and reregistration.
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&EPA
United States'
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Program (H7502C)
PMSD. Information Services Branch
401 M Street. SW.
Washington. DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use S300
First-Class Bulk
Postage and Fees Paid
EPA
Permit No. G-35 t
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