Nitrofen

Synonyms

2',4'-Dichloro-4-nitrobiphenyl ether; 2,4-Dechlorophenyl p-nitrophenyl ether; 2,4-Dichloro-1-(4-nitrophenoxy)benzene; 2,4-Dichloro-4'-nitrodiphenyl ether; 2,4-Dichloro-4'-nitrophenyl ether; 2,4-Dichlorophenyl 4-nitrophenyl ether; 2,4-Dichlorophenyl p-nitrophenyl ether; 2,4-Dichlorophenyl-p-nitro phenyl ether; 2,4-Dichlorphenyl-4-nitrophenylaether [German]; 4'-Nitro-2,4-dichlorodiphenyl ether; 4-(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)nitrobenzene; 4-Nitro-2',4'-dichlorophenyl ether; Benzene, 2,4-dichloro-1-(4-nitrophenoxy)-; Ether, 2,4-dichlorophenyl p-nitrophenyl; FW 925; Mezotox; NIP; Niclofen; Nitrafen; Nitraphen; Nitrochlor; Nitrofene [ISO-French]; Nitrophen; Nitrophene; Preparation 125; TOK; TOK E; TOK E 40; TOK E-25; TOK WP-50; TOK-2; Tokkorn; Trizilin; Trizilin 25; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Herbicides, Protox-Inhibiting

Description

Colorless to brown solid; Darkens on light exposure; [ICSC] White, yellow, or dark brown solid; [HSDB] Yellow crystalline solid; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as pre- or post-emergence herbicide for control of annual broad-leaved and grass weeds in cereals, rice, sugar beets, ornamentals, vegetables, and public easements; No longer produced or marketed in the US; [HSDB]

Comments

A skin and respiratory tract irritant; May have effect on the CNS and liver and possibly carcinogenic to humans; "Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes malformations in human babies." [ICSC] Increase congenital malformations in rodent experiments at levels that were not overtly toxic to mothers; [REPROTOX] May cause skin irritation; [HSDB] May cause skin and eye irritation; [CAMEO] Caused convulsions and coma in a woman who ingested 10 ml/kg; [MSDSonline] See "Fluthiacet-methyl."

Prohibited for use in the US, U.K., Federal Republic of Germany, Sweden, and the Russian Federation, and highly restricted in many other countries; [INCHEM] Banned in the EU; [eChemPortal: ESIS]

Biomedical References

LCLo (cats) = 620 mg/m3/4h

Explanatory Notes

VP = 8.00E-6 mm Hg at 40 deg C; [ChemIDplus] Classified as 2B for "technical grade" substance; [IARC]

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Possible (2b)

Anticipated human carcinogen

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)