Return to Prosulfuron Index Page

Activity: Herbicide (sulfonylurea)
Structure:

Adverse Effects:
Blood
Body Weight Decrease
Bone
Endocrine: Breast
Endocrine: Testicular
Endocrine: Uterus
Heart
Liver

Blood (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- Short term toxicity Target / critical effect: Liver (hepatocyte hypertrophy), heart (myocardial degeneration), hematopoietic system (red blood cells decreased) Lowest relevant oral NOAEL / NOEL: NOAEL = 6 mg/kg b.w./day (90-day, dog)
Ref: July 2, 2002 - Review report for the active substance prosulfuron. Finalised in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at its meeting on 26 February 2002 in view of the inclusion of prosulfuron in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC.European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Prosulfuron.EU.July.2002.pdf

Chronic toxicity. In the 1-year dog chronic dosing study, the NOAEL was 1.84 mg/kg/day based on hematologic and clinical chemistry effects and incidence of lipofuscin accumulation in the liver at 18.6 mg/kg/day.
Ref: Federal Register: December 31, 2002. Prosulfuron; Notice of Filing Pesticide Petitions to Establish Tolerances for a Certain Pesticide Chemical in or on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/prosulfuron.fr.dec.31.2002.htm

-- A 2-year chronic feeding/carcinogenicity study in rats fed dosages of 0, 0.4, 7.9, 79.9 or 160.9 (males), and 0, 0.5, 9.2, 95.7 or 205.8 mg/kg/day (females) was conducted. There was uncertain evidence of carcinogenicity with slight increases in the incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinomas in females at 95.7 and 205.8 mg/kg/day, slight increase in incidence of benign testicular interstitial cell tumors at 79.9 and 160.9 mg/kg/day (significant trend only). A systemic NOAEL of 7.9 mg/kg/day was based on decreased body weight and body weight gain, hematopoietic effects (males), and possibly increased serum GGT and decreased liver, kidney and adrenal weights (females) at 79.9 mg/kg/ day.
Ref: Federal Register: August 25, 1999. [PF-882; FRL-6093-7]. Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition to Establish a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/prosulfuron.fr.aug.25.1999.htm

Body Weight Decrease (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- A 2-year chronic feeding/carcinogenicity study in rats fed dosages of 0, 0.4, 7.9, 79.9 or 160.9 (males), and 0, 0.5, 9.2, 95.7 or 205.8 mg/kg/day (females) was conducted. There was uncertain evidence of carcinogenicity with slight increases in the incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinomas in females at 95.7 and 205.8 mg/kg/day, slight increase in incidence of benign testicular interstitial cell tumors at 79.9 and 160.9 mg/kg/day (significant trend only). A systemic NOAEL of 7.9 mg/kg/day was based on decreased body weight and body weight gain, hematopoietic effects (males), and possibly increased serum GGT and decreased liver, kidney and adrenal weights (females) at 79.9 mg/kg/ day.
Ref: Federal Register: August 25, 1999. [PF-882; FRL-6093-7]. Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition to Establish a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/prosulfuron.fr.aug.25.1999.htm

Bone (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- Reproductive toxicity. Developmental toxicity: Skeletal variations (rat) and resorptions (rabbit) at maternal toxic doses. Lowest relevant developmental NOAEL / NOEL: NOAEL = 10 mg/kg b.w./day (rabbit)
Ref: July 2, 2002 - Review report for the active substance prosulfuron. European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General.

Endocrine: Breast (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- Long term toxicity and carcinogenicity Target / critical effect: Liver (hepatocellular hypertrophy in mice), indication of hormonal disruption (uterus and mammalian gland in rats) at high dose levels. Lowest relevant NOAEL: NOAEL = 1,7 mg/kg bw/day (18-month, mouse) Carcinogenicity: No carcinogenic potential
Ref: July 2, 2002 - Review report for the active substance prosulfuron. European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General.

-- A 2-year chronic feeding/carcinogenicity study in rats fed dosages of 0, 0.4, 7.9, 79.9 or 160.9 (males), and 0, 0.5, 9.2, 95.7 or 205.8 mg/kg/day (females) was conducted. There was uncertain evidence of carcinogenicity with slight increases in the incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinomas in females at 95.7 and 205.8 mg/kg/day, slight increase in incidence of benign testicular interstitial cell tumors at 79.9 and 160.9 mg/kg/day (significant trend only). A systemic NOAEL of 7.9 mg/kg/day was based on decreased body weight and body weight gain, hematopoietic effects (males), and possibly increased serum GGT and decreased liver, kidney and adrenal weights (females) at 79.9 mg/kg/ day.
-- Carcinogenicity. The HED RfD/Peer Review Committee (PRC) classified this chemical as a Class D oncogen based on the conclusion that there was uncertain evidence of carcinogenicity. No relevant treatment-related oncogenic potential was observed in rats and mice. The slightly increased incidence of testicular interstitial cell tumors in male rats at 79.9 mg/kg/day and the slightly increased incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinoma in females at 95.7 mg/kg/day was not significant when the increased survival in these groups was considered. Furthermore, the overall incidence of mammary tumors was essentially identical in all groups including the control. There was no evidence of carcinogenicity in mice and dosages in both studies were sufficient for identifying a cancer risk. In the absence of carcinogenicity, it is appropriate that a RfD approach be used for quantitation of human risks.
Ref: Federal Register: August 25, 1999. [PF-882; FRL-6093-7]. Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition to Establish a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/prosulfuron.fr.aug.25.1999.htm

Endocrine: Testicular (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- A 2-year chronic feeding/carcinogenicity study in rats fed dosages of 0, 0.4, 7.9, 79.9 or 160.9 (males), and 0, 0.5, 9.2, 95.7 or 205.8 mg/kg/day (females) was conducted. There was uncertain evidence of carcinogenicity with slight increases in the incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinomas in females at 95.7 and 205.8 mg/kg/day, slight increase in incidence of benign testicular interstitial cell tumors at 79.9 and 160.9 mg/kg/day (significant trend only). A systemic NOAEL of 7.9 mg/kg/day was based on decreased body weight and body weight gain, hematopoietic effects (males), and possibly increased serum GGT and decreased liver, kidney and adrenal weights (females) at 79.9 mg/kg/ day.
-- Carcinogenicity. The HED RfD/Peer Review Committee (PRC) classified this chemical as a Class D oncogen based on the conclusion that there was uncertain evidence of carcinogenicity. No relevant treatment-related oncogenic potential was observed in rats and mice. The slightly increased incidence of testicular interstitial cell tumors in male rats at 79.9 mg/kg/day and the slightly increased incidence of mammary gland adenocarcinoma in females at 95.7 mg/kg/day was not significant when the increased survival in these groups was considered. Furthermore, the overall incidence of mammary tumors was essentially identical in all groups including the control. There was no evidence of carcinogenicity in mice and dosages in both studies were sufficient for identifying a cancer risk. In the absence of carcinogenicity, it is appropriate that a RfD approach be used for quantitation of human risks.
Ref: Federal Register: August 25, 1999. [PF-882; FRL-6093-7]. Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition to Establish a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/prosulfuron.fr.aug.25.1999.htm

Endocrine: Uterus (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- Long term toxicity and carcinogenicity Target / critical effect: Liver (hepatocellular hypertrophy in mice), indication of hormonal disruption (uterus and mammalian gland in rats) at high dose levels. Lowest relevant NOAEL: NOAEL = 1,7 mg/kg bw/day (18-month, mouse) Carcinogenicity: No carcinogenic potential
Ref: July 2, 2002 - Review report for the active substance prosulfuron. European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General.

Heart (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- Short term toxicity Target / critical effect: Liver (hepatocyte hypertrophy), heart (myocardial degeneration), hematopoietic system (red blood cells decreased) Lowest relevant oral NOAEL / NOEL: NOAEL = 6 mg/kg b.w./day (90-day, dog)
Ref: July 2, 2002 - Review report for the active substance prosulfuron. Finalised in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at its meeting on 26 February 2002 in view of the inclusion of prosulfuron in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC.European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Prosulfuron.EU.July.2002.pdf

Liver (click on for all fluorinated pesticides)

-- Short term toxicity Target / critical effect: Liver (hepatocyte hypertrophy), heart (myocardial degeneration), hematopoietic system (red blood cells decreased) Lowest relevant oral NOAEL / NOEL: NOAEL = 6 mg/kg b.w./day (90-day, dog)
-- Long term toxicity and carcinogenicity Target / critical effect: Liver (hepatocellular hypertrophy in mice), indication of hormonal disruption (uterus and mammalian gland in rats) at high dose levels Lowest relevant NOAEL: NOAEL = 1,7 mg/kg bw/day (18-month, mouse) Carcinogenicity: No carcinogenic potential
Ref: July 2, 2002 - Review report for the active substance prosulfuron. European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Prosulfuron.EU.July.2002.pdf

-- In an 18-month mouse carcinogenicity study, prosulfuron was administered at dose levels of 0, 1.71, 81.4, 410 or 832 mg/kg/day (males), and 0, 2.11, 100, 508 or 1,062 mg/kg/day (females). There was no evidence of carcinogenic effects up to 1,062 mg/kg/day, the HDT. The NOAEL was 1.71 mg/kg/day in males, and 100 mg/kg/day in females based on increased incidence/severity of centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy.
-- Chronic toxicity. Prosulfuron was fed to dogs at dosages of 0, 0.33, 1.95, 18.6 or 41.0 mg/kg/day (males) and 0, 0.31, 1.84, 20.2, or 48.8 mg/kg/day (females) for 1-year. The NOAEL was 1.84 mg/kg/day based on hematologic and clinical chemistry effects and incidence of lipofuscin accumulation in the liver at 18.6 mg/kg/day.
Ref: Federal Register: August 25, 1999. [PF-882; FRL-6093-7]. Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition to Establish a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/prosulfuron.fr.aug.25.1999.htm