Fenoxaprop-P-Ethyl — toxicity, side effects, diseases and environmental impacts

11/29/2017 / By Frances Bloomfield

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl is a post-emergent herbicide belonging to the aryloxyphenoxy propionate group. First registered in 1987, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl is most often used on the broad-leaved weeds that tend to grow around rice and ornamentals.

List of known side effects

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. If prolonged dermal contact occurs, then the affected skin either become sensitized or undergo an allergic reaction. If severe respiratory tract irritation happens, then this may progress into a more severe respiratory condition such as acute lung injury.

In addition to being an irritant, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl can burn the esophagus and/or gastrointestinal tract if ingested. Moreover, swallowing fenoxaprop-P-ethyl can lead to kidney and liver abnormalities and damage, though this happens with great amounts of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl.

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl is highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates, fish, and non-target plants.

Body systems affected by fenoxaprop-P-ethyl

Depending on the route of entry, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl has the potential to harm the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Swallowing this chemical can damage the gastrointestinal system, and raises the risk of liver and kidney problems.

Items that can contain fenoxaprop-P-ethyl

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl has been sold under a good number of trade names, with the most prominent ones being:

Cheetah Super
Foxtrot EW
Oskar
Puma S
Tigress Ultra
Triumph

How to avoid

As per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are a multitude of steps to take to minimize fenoxaprop-P-ethyl exposure, namely:

Wearing personal protective equipment at all times — Coveralls, protective eyewear, and chemical-resistant gloves and footwear are highly recommended. For maintenance, wash these clothes at work and avoid bringing them home to prevent cross-contamination. Heavily contaminated clothing and materials should be properly discarded, not reused.
Follow the user safety recommendations — Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling this chemical. Wash hands immediately after exposure and prior to eating, drinking, smoking, and using the toilet. Change into clean clothing afterwards.

Where to learn more

Summary

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl is an irritating substance that can aggravate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. It can be just as dangerous when swallowed, as doing so can bring harm onto the digestive system, kidneys, and liver.

Sources include:

Sitem.Herts.AC.uk
ToxNet.NLM.NIH.gov
PubChem.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
EPA.gov

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