Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Cottonseed Oil

General Information

• Product Names:

  Oil Away Supreme Insecticidal Oil (Oil Away)

  Mite-E-Oil Miticide Spray (Mite-E-Oil)

  Mildew Cure (OG)

  Monterey Nature’s Own Spray Helper (Monterey Nature)

• Chemical Class: Oil - vegetable
• Uses: Insecticide, fungicide
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Least-toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Not documented
• 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: Not documented
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) 
  • EPA Minimum Risk [FIFRA 25(b)] Pesticides 
• Supporting information:
  • Cottonseed Oil (Pesticide Action Network) 
  • Insect Control: Horticultural Oils (Colorado State University Extension)
• Studies:
  • Plant oils as fumigants and contact insecticides for the control of stored-product insects. Shaaya, E., Kostjukovski, M., Eilberg, J., and Sukprakarn, C. 1997. Journal of Stored Products Research.
  • Cottonseed oil and safer insecticidal soap: effects on cotton and vegetable pests and phytotoxicity. Butler, G.D. Jr., Henneberry, T.J. 1990. Southwestern Entomologist.