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Updates from the Daily News Blog

Pesticides Linked to Altered Gut Microbiota in Farmland Bird of Prey, Raising Biodiversity Concerns
April 29, 2025

Agricultural Herbicide Use Threatens Oak Trees
June 14, 2017

Study Finds Low Pesticide Concentrations Can Become Toxic Mixture
November 17, 2008

Industry Scientists Persuade State To Implement More Lenient Pesticide Regulation
January 23, 2008

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Acetochlor

General Information

• Product Names:

  Suerstart (Dow) formulated with Clopyralid
  Fultime (Dow) formulated with Atrazine
  Keystone (Dow) formulated with Atrazine
  Volley (Tenkoz)
  Cadence (Loveland)
  Harness (Monsanto) formulated with Atrazine
  Tophand (Monsanto)
  Tremor (United Suppliers)
  Surpass (Dow)
  Breakfree (Dupont)

• Chemical Class: Chloroacetanilide herbicide
• Uses: Preemergent weed control on field corn and popcorn.
• Alternatives: Organic agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Suggestive evidence (8, 21)
• Endocrine Disruption: Yes (30, 36)
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (8)
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (8)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/Developmental: Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (8)

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Registration Documents
  • Drinking Water Treaability Database
• Supporting information:
  • Extoxnet pesticide Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • CDC Biomonitoring Summary
  • PAN Pesticides Database: Acetochlor (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
• Autism: Transient in utero hypothyroxinemia related to maternal flavonoid ingestion during pregnancy and to other environmental antithyroid agents. Román, G, C. 2007. Journal of the Neurological Sciences; 262(1-2), pp 15-26
• A cocktail of contaminants: how mixtures of pesticides at low concentrations affect aquatic communities. Relyea R. A. (2009). A cocktail of contaminants: how mixtures of pesticides at low concentrations affect aquatic communities. Oecologia, 159(2), 363–376. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-008-1213-9
• Exposure to pesticides is correlated with gut microbiota alterations in a farmland raptor. Bariod, L. et al. (2025) Exposure to pesticides is correlated with gut microbiota alterations in a farmland raptor, Environment International. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025001874.