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Mefluidide. Pesticide Fact Sheet.
Prepared for U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
by Information Ventures, Inc.

http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pestcide/mefluidi.html

Mefluidide

Pesticide Fact Sheet

Prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service by Information Ventures, Inc.

This fact sheet is one of a series issued by the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bonneville Power Administration for their workers and the general public. It provides information on forest and land management uses, environmental and human health effects, and safety precautions for the herbicide mefluidide and its formulations. Unless otherwise stated, the toxicity data presented in this fact sheet refer to the active ingredient, mefluidide. When included, data on formulated products will be specifically identified. A list of definitions is included in Section VIII of the fact sheet.

I. Basic Information

Common name: Mefluidide

Chemical name: N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl)-sulfonyl]amino]phenyl]acetamide

Common Product names: Embark 2-S®, Embark Lite®

Pesticide classification: herbicide

Registered Use Status: "General Use"

Formulations: Commercial mefluidide products generally contain one or more inert ingredients. An inert ingredient is anything added to the product other than an active ingredient. Because of concern for human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its policy on toxic inert ingredients in the Federal Register on April 22, 1987 (52 FR 13305). The intent of this policy is the regulation of inert ingredients. EPA's strategy for the implementation of this policy included the development of four lists of inerts based on toxicological concerns. Inerts of toxicological concern were placed on List 1. Potentially toxic inerts/high priority for testing were placed on List 2. Inerts of unknown toxicity were placed on List 3 and inerts of minimal concern were placed on List 4.

For pesticides containing List 1 inerts, the EPA has given the pesticide registrant the opportunity to reformulate the product to remove the List 1 inerts. If the registrant chooses not to reformulate the product, then the List 1 inerts must be identified on the product label. For List 2 inerts, the EPA is monitoring ongoing testing and gathering existing information on the potential adverse effects of these chemicals to determine if further regulatory action is required. The EPA has no particular regulatory plans for List 3 and List 4 inerts. The Forest Service will incorporate new data on inerts into updated fact sheets as it becomes available.

The contents of two mefluidide formulations are listed below.

Embark 2-S®: mefluidide (28%) and inert ingredients (72%)

Embark Lite®: mefluidide (3.2%) and inert ingredients (96.8%)

Residue assay methods: Gas-liquid chromatography methods are available for residue assay.

II. Herbicide Uses

Registered forestry, rangeland, right-of-way uses: Control plants on rights-of-way, road and curbside grass areas, fenceline areas, steep banks, rough or rocky terrain grass areas, and fringe turf areas.

Operational details:

Target Plants: Mefluidide is used to control ornamental and non-ornamental woody plants, ground cover, hedges, trees, turf grasses, grass and broadleaf weeds.

Mode of action: Mefluidide applied to foliage inhibits plant cell division, stem elongation, and seedhead development.

Method of application: ground equipment or boom sprayer

Timing Of Application: Apply to turf grass before or after mowing. Spray ornamental or non-ornamental woody plants just before or after trimming and shaping. Mefluidide may be applied at any time of the year when the plant is healthy and actively growing.

Use rates: Use 0.125 to 2 pounds active ingredients per acre.

Special Precautions:

Always read all of the information on the product label before using any pesticide. Read the label for application restrictions.

Drift Control: Do not allow careless application or spray drift. Do not permit spray or spray drift to contact desirable plants or food crops.

Surface-Water: Do not apply directly to lakes, ponds, or streams. Do not contaminate water when disposing of equipment wash waters. Do not apply directly to water or wetlands.

III. Environmental Effects/Fate

Soil:

Water:

Air:

IV. Ecological Effects

Non-Target Toxicity:

V. Toxicology Data

Acute toxicity:

Chronic toxicity:

HAZARD: Based on the results of laboratory tests, mefluidide is not classified as a carcinogen, mutagen, teratogen, or reproductive inhibitor.

VI. Human Health Effects

Acute toxicity (poisoning):

Reported effects: There have been no reports of acute poisoning with mefluidide in humans.

Chronic toxicity:

Reported effects: There have been no reports of long term, adverse health effects in humans due to mefluidide.

Potential for adverse health effects from contacting or consuming treated vegetation, water or animals: No information available.

Potential for adverse health effects from inert ingredients contained in the formulated product: Because of concern for human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its policy on inerts of toxicological concern (Lists 1 and 2) in the Federal Register on April 22, 1987 (52 FR 13305). The intent of this policy is to encourage the use in pesticide products of the least toxic inert ingredients available. EPA's strategy for the implementation of this policy included the development of four lists of inert ingredients according to toxicity. The toxicity categories for the lists of inert ingredients are:

For pesticides containing List 1 inerts, the EPA has given the pesticide registrant the opportunity to reformulate the product to remove the List 1 inerts. If the registrant chooses not to reformulate the product, then the List 1 inerts must be identified on the product label. For List 2 inerts, the EPA is monitoring ongoing testing and gathering existing information on the potential adverse effects of these chemicals to determine if further regulatory action is required. The EPA has no particular regulatory plans for List 3 and List 4 inerts. The Forest Service will incorporate new data on inerts into updated fact sheets as it becomes available.

No inerts cited on EPA List 1 are included in the Embark 2-S or Embark Lite formulations. None of the inerts in these formulations have been publicly identified by the manufacturer.

Health effects of exposure to formulated products: Mefluidide formulations may cause skin and eye irritation.

Health effects associated with contaminants: No hazardous contaminants have been identified in mefluidide or the Embark 2-S or Embark Lite formulations.

Health effects associated with other formulations: Mefluidide is not commercially formulated with other pesticides.

Health risk management procedures: The Forest Service evaluates health effects data in the development of both pesticide background statement documents and environmental impact statements for pesticide use on forest lands. These health effects evaluations take into consideration the potential for both worker and public exposure from Forest Service operations. This information is used in assessing health risks and consequently in formulating protective measures to reduce risk to forest workers and to the public. Section VII of this fact sheet, Safety Precautions, provides guidance for the safe handling and use of mefluidide.

VII. Safety precautions:

Signal word and definition:

CAUTION - HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN. MAY CAUSE SKIN OR EYE IRRITATION.

Protective Precautions for Workers: Avoid contact with eyes, skin or clothing. Avoid breathing vapors or spray mist. Wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves, when handling mefluidide. Remove clothing immediately if pesticide gets inside. Wash body thoroughly with soap and water and put on clean clothes. Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.

VIII. Definitions


adsorption - the process of attaching to a surface
avian - of, or related to, birds
carcinogenicity - ability to cause cancer
dermal - of, or related to, the skin
ecotoxicology - the study of the effects of environmental toxicants on populations of organisms originating, being produced, growing, or living naturally in a particular region or environment.
formulation - the form in which the pesticide is supplied by the manufacturer for use
half-life - the time required for half the amount of substance to be reduced by natural processes
herbicide - a substance used to kill plants or to slow down their growth
LC50 - the concentration in air, water, or food which will kill approximately 50% of the subjects
LD50 - the dose which will kill approximately 50% of the subjects
leach - to dissolve out by the action of water
mg/kg - milligrams of the substance per kilogram of body weight
mg/L - milligrams per liter
microorganisms - living things too small to be seen without a micro-scope
mutagenicity - ability to cause genetic changes
non-target - animals or plants other than the ones which the pesticide is intended to kill
persistence - tendency of a pesticide to remain active after it is applied
ppm - parts per million
residual activity - the remaining amount of activity as a pesticide
teratogenicity - the ability to cause birth defects
volatility - the tendency to become a vapor at relatively low temperature

X. Toxicity Categories

Tables of Categories of Toxicity

Table I: Human Hazards
Route of Administration Hazard
Category Signal word Oral
(mg/kg)		 Dermal
(mg/kg)		 Inhalation
(mg/L)		 Eye Irritation Skin Irritation
I DANGER
Poison		 0-50 0-200 0-0.2 corrosive: corneal opacity not reversible within 7 days corrosive
II WARNING >50-500 >200-2000 >0.2-20 corneal opacity reversible within 7 days; irritation persisting for 7 days severe irritation at 72 hours
III CAUTION >500-5000 >2000-20,000 >2.0-20 no corneal opacity; irritation reversible within 7 days moderate irritation at 72 hours
IV none >5000 >20,000 >20 no irritation mild or slight irritation at 72 hours


40 CFR 162.10 (h) (1), July 3, 1975

Table II: Ecotoxicological Categories
Toxicity
Category		 Mammalian
(Acute Oral)*
mg/kg		 Avian
(Acute Oral)*
mg/kg		 Avian
(Dietary)_
ppm		 Aquatic
Organisms‡
ppm
very highly toxic <10 <10 <50 <0.1
highly toxic 10-50 10-50 50-500 0.1-1
moderately toxic 51-500 51-500 501-1000 >1-10
slightly toxic 501-2000 501-2000 1000-5000 >10-100
practically non-toxic >2000 >2000 >5000 >100


* Reflects dose given to test animals and is based on body weight of the test animal.
_Concentration in the diet. Unrelated to body weight of the test animal. Measure of environmental exposure.
‡Concentration in water. Unrelated to body weight of test animal. Measure of environmental exposure.

Adapted from Insecticides, Brooks, H.L. et al. (1973) Cooperative Extension, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
For more information on Mefluidide contact your local Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Bonneville Power Administration office.
Prepared by Information Ventures, Inc. under U.S. Forest Service Contract. November 1995

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