View source for Chlorpyrifos

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{{Definition|title=Chlorpyrifos 

|definition=Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide that has been widely used to control cockroaches, fleas, termites and to control crop pests. In 1997, chlorpyrifos was withdrawn from most indoor and pet uses. Chlorpyrifos is a white crystal-like solid with a strong odour<ref name="US">[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp84.pdf U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1997 TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHLORPYRIFOS]</ref>. }}

== Notes ==

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! bgcolor="#FF8888" | Chlorpyrifos 
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| align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | [[Image:Chlorpyrifos.png|150px|Chlorpyrifos ]] 
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| align="center" | C<sub>9</sub>H<sub>11</sub>Cl<sub>13</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>PS 
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Chlorpyrifos enters the environment through direct application to crops, lawns and domesticated animals. It may also enter the environment through spills and the disposal of chlorpyrifos waste. 

It has a low water solubility (0.7 mg/l) and a high tendency to [[adsorption|adsorb]] to particles and soils. Therefore it's unlikely to end up in the marine ecosystem. It has a high volatility causing it after use to usually evaporate into the atmosphere , where it is degraded rapidly. It, however, only evaporates slowly from water bodies, mainly because chlorpyrifos in water is associated to suspended particles. In water it is slowly hydrolysed with a [[half-life]] of less than 60 days. <ref name="US">[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp84.pdf U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1997 TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHLORPYRIFOS]</ref>

It has a high potential towards [[bioaccumulation]] and might possibly also [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] through [[food chain|food chains]]. <ref name="US">[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp84.pdf U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1997 TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHLORPYRIFOS]</ref>

Chlorpyrifos is very toxic for crustaceans, especially [http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1135 amphipods] which die when exposed to concentrations above 0.1 µg/l. Concentrations which cause acute toxicity in [[pollution and pelagic fishes|fish]] range, depending on the [[species]], from 1 µg/l to 500 µg/l. <ref>[http://www.pesticideinfo.org/List_AquireAcuteSum.jsp?Rec_Id=PC33392 www.pesticideinfo.org August 20 2009]</ref>
In humans, chlorpyrifos can cause cholinesterase inhibition; it can overstimulate the nervous system causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and at very high exposures respiratory paralysis and death. <ref>[http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/chlorpyrifos_ired.pdf U.S. EPA 2002 Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Chlorpyrifos]</ref>
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== Environmental standards and legislation ==

[[List of priority substances|Included in the water framework list of priority substances]]
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== See also ==

[http://www.vliz.be/projects/endis/EDnorth.php?showchemprop=true&showeffects=true&chemeffects=true&chemid=353 Chlorpyrifos on the ED North Database]
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==References==
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[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]