| Description | Cyanophos is an amber liquid, decomposes
at 119–120 ?C, vp 105 mPa (20 ?C). Solubility in water is
46 mg/L (30 ?C). It is soluble in most organic solvents.
Log Kow = 2.65. Cyanophos is effective in controlling
a variety of insect pests including rice stem borers.
Major formulation types are dustable powder, emulsifiable
concentrate, wettable powder, and ultra low volume liquid. |
| Chemical Properties | Cyanophos is a yellow to reddish-yellow or
amber liquid. |
| Uses | Cyanophos is used to control a number of chewing and sucking
pests in cotton, fruit and vegetables and public health pests. |
| Uses | Insecticide. |
| Uses | Cyanophos is a cholinesterase inhibitor used as an insecticide and avicide. |
| Definition | ChEBI: Cyanophos is an organothiophosphate insecticide and an organic thiophosphate. It has a role as an agrochemical and an EC 3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase) inhibitor. It is functionally related to a 4-cyanophenol. |
| General Description | Yellow to reddish-yellow transparent liquid. Used as an insecticide against rice stem borers and house flies. Not registered as a pesticide in the U.S. |
| Reactivity Profile | Organophosphates, such as CYANOPHOS, are susceptible to formation of highly toxic and flammable phosphine gas in the presence of strong reducing agents such as hydrides. Partial oxidation by oxidizing agents may result in the release of toxic phosphorus oxides. |
| Health Hazard | Exhibits acute, delayed, and chronic poisoning; highly toxic cholinesterase inhibitor;ingestion of small doses or skin absorption may produce delayed effects; massiveoral dose can be fatal; toxic symptomsinclude headache, dizziness, blurred vision,pinpoint pupils, vomiting, abdominal painand seizures; respiratory symptoms includeshortness of breath, respiratory depression,and respiratory paralysis.
LD50 oral (rat): 18 mg/kg. |
| Health Hazard | CYANOPHOS is an organophosphorus insecticide. It is a cholinesterase inhibitor. Death may occur after a massive oral dose; with smaller accidental doses, onset of illness may be delayed. |
| Fire Hazard | (Non-Specific -- Organophosphorus Pesticide, Liquid, n.o.s.) Container may explode in heat of fire. Fire and runoff from fire control water may produce irritating or poisonous gases. Unstable. Rapidly decomposes under alkaline conditions and upon exposure to light. |
| Potential Exposure | A potential danger to those involved
in the manufacture, formulation, and application of this
insecticide which is used against rice stem borers and house
flies. It is not registered as a pesticide in the United States.
Incompatibilities: Alkaline materials and exposure to light
can cause rapid decomposition. Contact with oxidizers may
cause the release of phosphorous oxides. Contact with
strong reducing agents, such as hydrides, may cause the
formation of flammable and toxic phosphine gas. |
| Metabolic pathway | The metabolism of cyanophos in plants and mammals is similar with
deactivation via demethylation to desmethylcyanophos being important
routes in both systems. Activation via oxidative desulfuration to cyanophos
oxon, which is itself demethylated, also occurs in both plants and
mammals. 4-Cyanophenol is an important metabolite which probably
occurs principally by hydrolysis of the oxon in plants but in mammals is
produced by oxidative dearylation of cyanophos also. In mammals it is
conjugated as the sulfate ester as a major liver and urinary metabolite but
conjugates of 4-cyanophenol have not been reported in plants. |
| Metabolism | The main biodegradation pathways in
mammals are demethylation and aryl ester bond cleavage;
the liberated cyanophenol is excreted in the form of the
sulfate ester, formed by conjugation. The metabolism
in plants is similar to that in mammals except the
cyanophenol conjugation. |
| Shipping | UN3278 Organophosphorus compound, liquid,
toxic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous
materials, Hazard Technical Name Required, Potential
Inhalation Hazard (Special Provision 5). UN3018
Organophosphorus pesticides, liquid, toxic, Hazard Class:
6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials. |
| Degradation | The photodecomposition of [14C-cyano]cyanophos in acetone (a photosensitising
solvent) irradiated by unfiltered UV light yielded cyanophos
oxon (2), desmethylcyanophos oxon (3), 4-cyanophenol (4), 4-cyanobenzoic
acid (5), 2-hydroxy-5-cyanobenzoic acid (6), CO2 and HCN. When
cyanophos was exposed to sunlight in aqueous solution or as thin films on
soil or silica gel TLC plates, which represent conditions more relevant
to photolysis in the environment, only cyanophos oxon (2), desmethylcyanophos
oxon (3) and 4-cyanophenol (4) were detected (Mikami et al.,
1976) (Scheme 1). |
| Toxicity evaluation | It has a low mammalian toxicity: acute oral LD50 for
rats is 710–730 mg/kg. Inhalation LC50 (4 h) for rats is
>1500 mg/m3 air. |
| Incompatibilities | A potential danger to those involved
in the manufacture, formulation, and application of this
insecticide which is used against rice stem borers and house
flies. It is not registered as a pesticide in the United States.
Incompatibilities: Alkaline materials and exposure to light
can cause rapid decomposition. Contact with oxidizers may
cause the release of phosphorous oxides. Contact with
strong reducing agents, such as hydrides, may cause the
formation of flammable and toxic phosphine gas. |
| Waste Disposal | In accordance with
40CFR165 recommendations for the disposal of pesticides
and pesticide containers. Must be disposed properly by fol-
lowing package label directions or by contacting your local
or federal environmental control agency, or by contacting
your regional EPA office. |
