United States Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Environmental Protection Office of Pesticide Programs (TS-766C)
Agency Washington. DC 20460
Pesticide
Fact Sheet
Name of Chemical: LACTIC ACID
Reason for Issuance: NEW CHFMICAL REGISTRATION
Date Issued: APR 2 9 1988
Fact Sheet Number: 163
Description of Chemical
Common Name: Lactic acid
Chemical Name: 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid
Trade Names: propel, SY-83
OPP (Shaughnessy) Number: 128929
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number: 79-33-4
*
Empirical Formula: C3Hg03
Molecular Weight: 90.08
Year of Initial Registration: 1988
Pesticide Type: Plant growth regulator
U.S. Producer: Purac Inc.
Use Patterns and Formulations
Types of Effects: Lactic acid hastens ripening, increases
fruit, seed and pod set and increases shoot and root
initiation.
«
Application Sites: Almonds, apples, beans (green and dry),
broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cherries, citrus, corn
(sweet and field), cotton, grapes, lettuce, peppers
(green and chil^), pineapples, prunes, strawberries,
sugarcane, tomatoes and walnuts.
Types and Methods of Application: Applied by conventional
aerial or ground equipment to foliage.
Application Rates: Rates range from 1 to 4 pounds active
ingredient (ai)/acre. A-100&-2000 parts per million
(ppm) solution will be used for pineapple and
sugarcane planting materials.
-------
—2
Type of Formulation: 80% ai solution
Usual Carriers: Water
3. Science Findings
Summary Science Statement: Available acute toxicity data
indicate Toxicity Category I for lactic acid, based on
pH. Lactic acid is a severe dermal and eye irritant.
However, acute dermal data indicate no systemic
toxicity. Protective clothing and eye protection
statements are required on the label to minimize
exposure during mixing, loading and application
operations. Subchronic/chronic toxicity, mutagenici ty
and environmental fate data requirements are waived.
The use of lactic acid is not expected to cause adverse
effects to nontarget organisms including endangered
species. The chemical is exempted from the requirement
of a tolerance when used as a plant growth regulator in
or on all raw agricultural commodities (RAC).
Chemical Characteristics
Physical State: Nonvolatile liquid
Color: Colorless
Odor: Odorless to weakly acid
Boiling Point: 190 C (760 mm Hg)
Density: 1.195 (at 85.3% purity) grams/ml
Solubility (25 C): Water — infinite
Ether — infinite
Ethanol — infinite
Vapor Pressure: 1.3 mm Hg at 90 C
Dissociation Constant: pKa = 3.87
pH: 0.6
Stability: Material is stable at normal temperatures.
Toxicological Characteristics:
Acute toxicity results
Acute oral toxicity (rat): 4,936 mg/kg (male), 3,543
mg/kg (female), Toxicity Category III
-------
—3—
Acute dermal toxicity (rabbit) : greater than 2,000
mg/kg, Toxicity Category III
Acute inhalation toxicity (rat) : greater than 5.0 mg/i
(analytical concentration) and 7.94 mg/i (nominal
concentration) for each sex separately or
combined. Toxicity Category III
Primary dermal irritation (rabbit): Lactic acid is a
severe dermal irritant. Toxicity Category I
Primary eye irritation: This data requirement was not
required since the pH of the chemical is less than
2. Toxicity Category I is assigned because of the
low pH.
Dermal sensitization (guinea pig): Lactic acid is not
a dermal sensitizer.
Subchronic, chronic toxicity and mutagenicity data
requirements are waived. These waivers are based
on the following, (1) the natural occurrence of
lactic acid; (2) residues resulting from the
registered uses will not be higher than is
presently allowed in food production and (3) such
residues will not exceed normal physiological
lactic acid levels in raw agricultural
commodities (RACs)
Major Routes of Exposure: Mixers, loaders and
applicators would receive the most exposure via
skin/eye contact and inhalation.
Physiological and Biochemical Behavioral Characteristics:
Mechanism of pesticidal action: Preliminary research
indicates that lactic acid causes temporary
stimulation of the Krebs cycle after glycolysis.
Metabolism and persistence in plants and animals:
Lactic acid is a normally occurring compound in
both plants and animals. It is formed and
metabolized from/to pyruvic acid in glycolysis.
Environmental Characteristics:
Lactic acid is naturally occurring and is rapidly
formed and degraded in soil. The chemical is found in
root exudates of common vegetables. It is a product
of aerobic and anaerobic soil metabolism of glucose and
plant matter. Because of the volume of data available
on this compound and its natural occurrence in the
environment, the environmental fate data
requirements are waived.
-------
-4-
Ecological Characteristics:
Avian acute oral toxicity (bobwhite quail): greater
than 2,250 mg/kg
Avian dietary toxicity (bobwhite quail): greater than
5,620 ppm
Avian dietary toxicity (mallard duck): greater than
5,620 ppm
Fish acute toxicity (bluegill) : 130 ppm
Fish acute toxicity (rainbow trout) : 130 ppm
Aquatic invertebrate toxicity ( Daphnia magna ) : 750 ppm
potential problems related to endangered species:
Minimal hazard to endangered species is expected
from the proposed use of lactic acid due to the
chemical’s natural occurrence in the environment
and living organisms and its low toxicity.
Tolerance Assessment: Lactic acid (2—Hydroxypropanoic acid)
is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when
used as a plant growth regulator in or on all raw
agricultural commodities (RAC). Lactic acid is
approved for use as an inert ingredient for
application to plants (40 CFR 180.1001 (c)). The Food
and Drug Administration approved the use of lactic
acid as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS)
ingredient in human foods. No Mexican or Canadian
tolerances or Codex Alimentarius maximum residue limits
have been established for residues of lactic acid in
any RAC.
4. Summary of Regulatory Positions
The following Agency positions are summarized from the
Lactic Acid Registration Standard.
None of the risk criteria listed in 40 CFR 154.7 for
initiating a Special Review has been exceeded.
The Agency is requiring protective clothing and eye
protection.
The Agency has waived the subchronic, chronic and
mutagenicity data requirements.
The Agency has waived environmental fate data
requirements for lactic acid.
-------
—5—
Use, Formulation or Geographic Restrictions: None
Unique Label Warning Statements: protective clothing and
eye protection are required.
5. Summary of Major Data Gaps
None
6. Contact person at EPA
Robert 3’. Taylor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Registration Division (TS—767C)
401 M Street., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(703) 557—1800
DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this Pesticide Fact
Sheet is for informational purposes only and may not be used to
fulfill data requirements for pesticide registration and
reregistration.
------- |