E X T O X N E T
Extension Toxicology Network
A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon
State University, and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension
Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program.
Pesticide
Information Imidacloprid
Profile
TRADE OR OTHER NAMES
Imidacloprid is found in a variety of commercial insecticides. The products Admire, Condifor, Gaucho,
Premier, Premise, Provado, and Marathon all contain imidacloprid as the active ingredient (1).
REGULATORY STATUS
Imidacloprid is a General Use Pesticide, and is classified by EPA as both a toxicity class II and class III
agent, and must be labeled with the signal word "Warning" or "Caution" (1). There are tolerances for
residues of imidacloprid and its metabolites on food/feed additives ranging from 0.02 ppm in eggs, to
3.0 ppm in hops (2).
INTRODUCTION
Imidacloprid is a systemic, chloro-nicotinyl insecticide with soil, seed and foliar uses for the control of
sucking insects including rice hoppers, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, termites, turf insects, soil insects and
some beetles. It is most commonly used on rice, cereal, maize, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, fruit,
cotton, hops and turf, and is especially systemic when used as a seed or soil treatment. The chemical
works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it
causes a blockage in a type of neuronal pathway (nicotinergic) that is more abundant in insects than in
warm-blooded animals (making the chemical selectively more toxic to insects than warm-blooded
animals). This blockage leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter,
resulting in the insect's paralysis, and eventually death. It is effective on contact and via stomach action
(3).
Imidacloprid based insecticide formu-lations are available as dustable powder, granular, seed dressing
(flowable slurry concentrate), soluble concentrate, suspension concentrate, and wettable powder (1).
Typical application rates range from 0.05 - 0.125 pounds/acre. These application rates are considerably
lower than older, traditionally used insecticides. It can be phytotoxic if it is not used according to
manufacturer's specifications, and has been shown to be compatible with fungicides when used as a
seed treatment to control insect pests (4).
TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ACUTE TOXICITY
Imidacloprid is moderately toxic. The oral dose of technical grade imidacloprid that resulted in
mortality to half of the test animals (LD50) is 450 mg/kg body weight in rats (1), and 131 mg/kg in
mice (3). The 24-hour dermal LD50 in rats is >5,000 mg/kg. It is considered non-irritating to eyes and
skin (rabbits), and non-sensitizing to skin (guinea pigs) (3). Some granular formulations may contain
clays as inert ingredients that may act as eye irritants. In acute inhalation toxicity tests with rats, the
airborne concentration of imidacloprid that resulted in mortality to half of the test organisms (LC50) is
> 69 mg/meters cubed air in the form of an aerosol, and >5323 mg/meters cubed air in the form of dust.
These values represent the maximum attainable airborne concentrations (3).
Signs and Symptoms of Poisoning
Although no account of human poisoning was found in the literature, signs and symptoms of poisoning
would be expected to be similar to nicotinic signs and symptoms, including fatigue, twitching, cramps,
and muscle weakness including the muscles necessary for breathing (5).
CHRONIC TOXICITY
A 2-year feeding study in rats fed up to 1,800 ppm resulted in a No Observable Effect Level (NOEL) of
100 ppm (5.7 mg/kg body weight in males and 7.6 mg/kg in females). Adverse effects included
decreased body weight gain in females at 300 ppm, and increased thyroid lesions in males at 300 ppm
and females at 900 ppm. A 1-year feeding study in dogs fed up to 2,500 ppm resulted in a NOEL of
1,250 ppm (41 mg/kg). Adverse effects included increased cholesterol levels in the blood, and some
stress to the liver (measured by elevated liver cytochrome p-450 levels) (6).
Reproductive Effects
A three generation reproduction study in rats fed up to 700 ppm imidacloprid resulted in a NOEL of
100 ppm (equivalent to 8 mg/kg/day) based on decreased pup body weight observed at the 250 ppm
dose level (6).
Teratogenic Effects
A developmental toxicity study in rats given doses up to 100 mg/kg/day by gavage on days 6 to 16 of
gestation resulted in a NOEL of 30 mg/kg/day (based on skeletal abnormalities observed at the next
highest dose tested of 100 mg/kg/day) (4). In a developmental toxicity study with rabbits given doses
of imidacloprid by gavage during days 6 through 19 of gestation, resulted in a NOEL of 24 mg/kg/day
based on decreased body weight and skeletal abnormalities observed at 72 mg/kg/day (highest dose
tested) (6).
Mutagenic Effects
Imidacloprid may be weakly mutagenic. In a battery of 23 laboratory mutagenicity assays, imidacloprid
tested negative for mutagenic effects in all but two of the assays. It did test positive for causing changes
in chromosomes in human lymphocytes, as well as testing positive for genotoxicity in Chinese hamster
ovary cells (6).
Carcinogenic Effects
Imidacloprid is considered to be of minimal carcinogenic risk, and is thus categorized by EPA as a
"Group E" carcinogen (evidence of noncarcinogenicity for humans). There were no carcinogenic
effects in a 2-year carcinogenicity study in rats fed up to 1,800 ppm imidacloprid (2).
Organ Toxicity
In short-term feeding studies in rats, there were thyroid lesions associated with very high doses of
imidacloprid (6).
Fate in Humans and Animals
Imidacloprid is quickly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and eliminated
via urine and feces (70-80% and 20-30%, respectively, of the 96% of the parent compound
administered within 48 hours). The most important metabolic steps include the degradation to 6-
chloronicotinic acid, a compound that acts on the nervous system as described above. This compound
may be conjugated with glycine and eliminated, or reduced to guanidine (3).
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Effects on Birds
Imidacloprid is toxic to upland game birds. The LD50 is 152 mg/kg for bobwhite quail, and 31 mg/kg
in Japanese quail (1, 3). In studies with red- winged blackbirds and brown-headed cowbirds, it was
observed that birds learned to avoid imidacloprid treated seeds after experiencing transitory
gastrointestinal distress (retching) and ataxia (loss of coordination). It was concluded that the risk of
dietary exposure to birds via treated seeds was minimal. Based on these studies, imidacloprid appears
to have potential as a bird repellent seed treatment (7, 8).
Effects on Aquatic Organisms
The toxicity of imidacloprid to fish is moderately low. The 96-hour LC50 of imidacloprid is 211 mg/l
for rainbow trout, 280 mg/l for carp, and 237 mg/l for golden orfe. In tests with the aquatic invertebrate
Daphnia, the 48- hour EC50 (effective concentration to cause toxicity in 50% of the test organisms)
was 85 mg/l (3). Products containing imidacloprid may be very toxic to aquatic invertebrates.
Effects on Other Animals (Nontarget species)
Imidacloprid is highly toxic to bees if used as a foliar application, especially during flowering, but is
not considered a hazard to bees when used as a seed treatment (3).
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Breakdown of Chemical in Soil and Groundwater
The half-life of imidacloprid in soil is 48-190 days, depending on the amount of ground cover (it breaks
down faster in soils with plant ground cover than in fallow soils) (9). Organic material aging may also
affect the breakdown rate of imidacloprid. Plots treated with cow manure and allowed to age before
sowing showed longer persistence of imidacloprid in soils than in plots where the manure was more
recently applied, and not allowed to age (10). Imidacloprid is degraded stepwise to the primary
metabolite 6-chloronicotinic acid, which eventually breaks down into carbon dioxide (11). There is
generally not a high risk of groundwater contamination with imidacloprid if used as directed. The
chemical is moderately soluble, and has moderate binding affinity to organic materials in soils.
However, there is a potential for the compound to move through sensitive soil types including porous,
gravelly, or cobbly soils, depending on irrigation practices (12).
Breakdown of Chemical in Surface Water
The half-life in water is much greater than 31 days at pH 5, 7 and 9. No other information was found.
Breakdown of Chemical in Vegetation
Imidacloprid penetrates the plant, and moves from the stem to the tips of the plant. It has been tested in
a variety of application and crop types, and is metabolized following the same pathways. The most
important steps were loss of the nitro group, hydroxylation at the imidazolidine ring, hydrolysis to 6-
chloronicotinic acid and formation of conjugates (3).
Analytical Methods
Methods are available for determining imidacloprid residues (the 6- chloropicolyl moiety) in plant
materials using HPLC with u.v. detection (13).
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND GUIDELINES
Exposure Guidelines:
RfD: 0.057 mg/kg/day (2)
NOEL: 5.7 mg/kg/day (2)
LEL: 16.9 mg/kg/day
TMRC: 0.002594 mg/k/day (2)
MOE: 2,500
Physical Properties:
Molecular formula: C9H10ClN5O2
Molecular weight: 255.7
CAS #: 13826-41-3
IUPAC name: 1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine.
C.A. name: 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine.
Form: Colorless crystals with a weak characteristic odor.
Melting point: 143.8 degrees C (crystal form 1) 136.4 degrees C (crystal form 2)
Solubility in water: 0.51 g/l (20 degrees C)
Solubility in other solvents dichloromethane - 50.0 - 100.0 g/l; isopropanol - 1.0-2.0 g/l; toluene -
@ 20 degrees C: 0.5-1.0 g/l; n-hexane - <0.1 g/l; fat - 0.061 g/100g
Vapor pressure: 0.2 uPa (20 degrees C) (1.5 X 10 to the minus 9 mmHg)
Specific gravity/density: 1.543 (20 degrees C)
Stability: Stable to hydrolysis at pH 5-11.
Melting point: 136.4-143.8 degrees C.
Kow log p: 0.57 (22 degrees C). (3)
BASIC MANUFACTURER
Bayer Agricultural Products
P. O. Box 4913
Kansas City, MO 64120
Review by Basic Manufacturer:
Comments solicited: May and October, 1995
Comments received: not received
REFERENCES
1. Meister, R.T. (ed.). 1995. Farm Chemicals Handbook '95. Meister Publishing Company.
Willoughby, OH.
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Imidacloprid; Pesticide Tolerance and Raw
Agricultural commodities. 40 CFR Part 180 Section 472.
3. Kidd, H. and D. James (eds.). 1994. Agrochemicals Handbook. Third Edition. Royal Society of
Chemistry. Cambridge, England.
4. Pike, K.S., G.L. Reed, G.T. Graf and D. Allison. 1993. Compatibility of Imidacloprid with
Fungicides as a Seed-Treatment Control of Russian Wheat Aphid (Homoptera: Aphidae) and
Effect on Germination, Growth, and Yield of Wheat Barley. J.Econ.Entomol. 86(2): 586-593.
5. Doull, J., C.D. Klassen, and M.O. Amdur (eds.). 1991. Cassarett and Doull's Toxicology. The
Basic Science of Poisons. Fourth Edition. Pergamon Press, Elmsford, NY.
6. Federal Register. Imidacloprid; Pesticide Tolerances. July 5, 1995. 60(128): 34943-24945.
7. Avery, M.L., D.G. Decker and D.L. Fischer. 1994. Cage and Flight Pen Evaluation of Avian
Repellancy and Hazard Associated with Imidacloprid-Treated Rice Seed. Crop Protection
13(7): 535-540.
8. Avery, M.L., D. Decker, D.L. Fischer and T.R. Stafford. 1993. Responses of Captive
Blackbirds to a New Seed Treatment. J. Wildl. Manage. 57(3): 652-656.
9. Scholz, K., and M. Spiteller. 1992. Influence of Groundcover on the Degradation of 14C-
Imidacloprid in Soil. Brighton Crop Protection Conference. Pests and Diseases. pp. 883-888.
10.Rouchard, J., F. Gustin and A. Wauters. 1994. Soil Organic Matter Aging and its Effect on
Insecticide Imidacloprid Soil Biodegradation in Sugar Beet Crop. Toxicol. Environ. Chem.
45(3-4): 149-155.
11.Hellpointer, E. 1994. Degradation and Translocation of Imidacloprid (NTN 33893) Under Field
Conditions on a Lysimeter. Miles Report No. 106426, pp. 1-71. Miles Inc., Agricultural
Division, PO Box 4913, Kansas City, MO.
12.Jenkins, J.J. 1994. Use of Imidacloprid for Aphid Control on Apples in Oregon. Potential for
Ground and Surface Water Contamination. Department of Agricultural Chemistry. Oregon State
University, Corvallis, OR.
13.Placke, F.J. and E. Weber. 1993. Method of Determining Imidacloprid Residues in Plant
Materials. Pflanzenschutz-Nachrichten Bayer. 46(2): 109-182.
