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Metribuzin

General Information

• Chemical Class: Triazine Herbicide
• Uses: Control of broadleaf weeds and grasses on food crops: wheat, asparagus, carrots, tomato, barley, corn, wheat, peas, soybean, potato, garbanzos, lentils, sugarcane; feed crops: barley, bermudagrass, bluegrass, grass (forage/fodder/hay), timothy, wheat, alfalfa, lentils, sainfoin; non-food crop: grasses grown for seed, recreational areas, ornamental lawns and turf (no residential uses)
• Alternatives: Organic Agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: II (moderately toxic)
• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Yes (30, 36)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (8)
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/ Liver Damage: Yes (4)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Yes (8)

Environmental Effects

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

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (6/1997)
• Supporting information:
• Extoxnet Metribuzin Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
• PAN Pesticide Database – Metribuzin (Pesticide Action Network)