Hexaethyltetraphosphate

Synonyms

Bladan base; Ethyl tetraphosphate; Ethyl tetraphosphate, hexa-; HET; HETP; HTP; Hexaethyl tetraphosphate; Hexaethyltetrafosfat [Czech]; Tetraphosphate hexaethylique [French]; Tetraphosphoric acid, hexaethyl ester; [ChemIDplus] UN1611; UN1612

Category

Organophosphate Insecticides

Description

Yellow hygroscopic liquid; [Hawley]

Sources/Uses

Used as a contact insecticide; [Hawley] Used to control soft bodied insects and mites; [EPA OHM/TADS]

Comments

Mixture of ethyl phosphates and ethyl pyrophosphates; A cholinesterase inhibitor; [Hawley] A strong cholinesterase inhibitor; Miosis not accompanied by other symptoms has been reported by pilots of crop dusters and attributed to plane crashes due to lack of depth perception; [HSDB] Severely hazardous by all routes of exposure; A cholinesterase inhibitor with symptoms including weakness, diarrhea, blurred vision, muscle twitching, and pin-point pupils; [EPA OHM/TADS] “The average of two baseline respective cholinesterase activity determinations three days apart, with no exposures to enzyme inhibiting pesticides for at least 30 days, is recommended for each worker prior to exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors because of large inter-individual differences in published baseline values. To be established at least once a year. Removal from workplace exposures is recommended until the cholinesterase activity returns to within 20% of baseline.” [TLVs and BEIs]

Mixture with compressed gas not permitted for air or passenger rail transportation; [Hawley] Not currently registered for use in the US or Canada; [HSDB]

Biomedical References

Acetylcholinesterase activity in red blood cells = 70% of individual's baseline; Butylcholinesterase activity in serum or plasma = 60% of individual's baseline; Sample at end of shift; [TLVs and BEIs]

2.06E-08 mm Hg

Explanatory Notes

UN1612 refers to Hexaethyltetraphosphate in a compressed gas mixture, which is a TIH;

Other Poison

Organophosphate

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Organophosphates & carbamates, acute poisoning

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)