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Metolachlor

General Information

• Chemical Class: Chloroacetanilide Herbicide
• Uses: Control of grass and grasslike weeds and broadleaf weeds on terrestrial food crops: cabbage, pepper, radish and stone fruits; terrestrial food and feed crops: corn, cotton, legume vegetables, peanuts, peas, potato, safflower, sorghum, soybeans, treenuts, alfalfa (feed only); terrestrial non-food crops and outdoor residential: Rights-of-Way, golf courses, recreational areas and lawns, nonbearing fruits, ornamental and/or shade trees, ornamental plants and flowers, residential lawns; forest trees
• Alternatives: Organic Agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: III (slightly toxic)
• Cancer: Possible (8)
• Endocrine Disruption: Suspected (43)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (4)
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/ Liver Damage: Yes (4)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (4)
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Not documented

Environmental Effects

• Detected in Groundwater: Frequently (37)
• Detected in Streams: Frequently (37)
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/ Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented
• Toxic to Mammals: Yes (8)
• Long-Range Transport: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (4/1995)
• Supporting information:
• Extoxnet Metolachlor Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
• PAN Pesticide Database – Metolachlor (Pesticide Action Network)