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The information in this profile may be out-of-date. It was last revised in 1996. EXTOXNET no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Please visit the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) to find updated pesticide fact sheets. If you don't find a fact sheet related to your question, feel free to call 1-800-858-7378. NPIC is open five days a week from 8:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time.

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E X T O X N E T

Extension Toxicology Network

Pesticide Information Profiles

A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of California at Davis and the Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program.

EXTOXNET primary files maintained and archived at Oregon State University

Revised June 1996

Sulfuryl fluoride

Trade and Other Names: Vikane is the most common trade name for sulfuryl fluoride.

Regulatory Status: All formulations of sulfuryl fluoride are Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) and bear the Signal Word DANGER on the product label, because they pose an inhalation hazard. Sulfuryl fluoride is EPA toxicity class I - highly toxic. RUPs may be purchased and used only by certified applicators.

Chemical Class: inorganic gas compound

Introduction: Sulfuryl fluoride is an inorganic gas fumigant used in structures, vehicles, and wood products for control of drywood termites, wood-infesting beetles, and certain other insects and rodents. There are no registered uses for sulfuryl fluoride on food or feed crops.

Formulation: Sulfuryl fluoride is an inorganic gas fumigant used in structures, vehicles, and wood products for control of drywood termites, wood-infesting beetles, and certain other insects and rodents.

Toxicological Effects:

• Acute toxicity: Sulfuryl fluoride is a toxic gas which acts as a central nervous system depressant [160]. Symptoms of poisoning include depression, slowed gait, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drunkenness, itching, numbness, twitching, and seizures [160,161]. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause respiratory tract irritation [160] or respiratory failure [161]. Skin contact with sulfuryl fluoride normally poses no hazard, but contact with liquid sulfuryl fluoride can cause pain and frostbite due to rapid vaporization [8]. Sulfuryl fluoride gas is odorless and colorless, does not cause tears or immediately noticeable eye irritation, and lacks any other warning property [162]. Chloropicrin is added to products containing sulfuryl fluoride to serve as a warning indicator. Chloropicrin is a gas which causes eye and respiratory irritation and vomiting. The oral LD50 for sulfuryl fluoride in rats and guinea pigs is 100 mg/kg [1]. The 4-hour inhalation LC50 in rats is approximately 5 mg/L [1]. The 1-hour LC50 is 12 to 15 mg/L in rats [1].
• Chronic toxicity: Long-term exposure to high levels of sulfuryl fluoride may cause blood and bone effects [1]. Repeated or prolonged exposure to sulfuryl fluoride may cause injury to lungs and kidneys, weakness, weight loss, anemia, bone brittleness, stiff joints, and general ill health [1]. Long-term effects of sulfuryl fluoride are those of excess fluoride [160]. Rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and female rhesus monkeys tolerated air concentrations of 417 mg/L for 7 hours per day, 5 days a week for 6 months with no apparent adverse effects [160].
• Reproductive effects: Two generations of rats were exposed to air concentrations of 21, 83, or 626 mg/L. No adverse effects on reproduction or fertility were seen at any dose. Toxic effects on the mother were accompanied by reduced pup weight at the highest does [160]. Sulfuryl fluoride does not appear to cause reproductive effects.
• Teratogenic effects: There were no birth defects in the offspring of pregnant rabbits and rats exposed to air concentrations of 1063 mg/L, the highest dose tested, during days 6 to 18 (rabbits) or days 6 through 15 (rats) of pregnancy for 6 hours/day. In rabbits, both the fetuses and the mothers exhibited decreased weight gain at that dose [8]. Sulfuryl fluoride does not appear to be teratogenic.
• Mutagenic effects: Several tests have shown that sulfuryl fluoride is not mutagenic. It failed to produce unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat liver cells exposed to concentrations between 204 and 1020 ppm [163]. Examination of bone marrow from mice exposed to air concentrations of as high as 2160 mg/L sulfuryl fluoride for 4 hours showed no mutagenic effects [164]. When sulfuryl fluoride was assayed with the Ames test for mutagenic effects in bacterial cell cultures, the results were negative [165].
• Carcinogenic effects: No data are currently available.
• Organ toxicity: Case reports indicate that central nervous system depression, liver, and kidney injuries may be possible in addition to respiratory injury [166].

• Fate in humans and animals: No data are currently available on the fate of sulfuryl fluoride in mammals. It is thought that fluoride ion may result from its metabolism [161,166].

Ecological Effects:

• Effects on birds: Sulfuryl fluoride is a gas under normal conditions [1]. It dissipates extremely rapidly after release into the environment. Exposure to birds is expected to be only at very low concentrations and of short duration.
• Effects on aquatic organisms: Sulfuryl fluoride is a gas with low water solubility and will diffuse out of water into the atmosphere. Because use of sulfuryl fluoride is permitted only indoors, exposure of aquatic organisms is unlikely.
• Effects on other organisms: No data are currently available.

Environmental Fate:

• Breakdown in soil and groundwater: Environmental effects from sulfuryl fluoride are expected to be negligible because this fumigant is applied only indoors or in sealed structures [8]. Since sulfuryl fluoride is a gas, it will not leach or contaminate groundwater.
• Breakdown in water: Sulfuryl fluoride is not readily hydrolyzed by water [160]. The products of hydrolysis are sulfate and fluoride.
• Breakdown in vegetation: No data are currently available.

Physical Properties:

• Appearance: Sulfuryl fluoride is a colorless, odorless gas [1].
• Chemical Name: sulfuryl fluoride [1]
• CAS Number: 2699-79-8
• Molecular Weight: 102.10
• Water Solubility: 750 mg/L @ 25 C [1]
• Solubility in Other Solvents: s. in ethanol, toluene, and carbon tetrachloride [1]
• Melting Point: -137 C [1]
• Vapor Pressure: 1.7 mPa @ 21.1 C [1]
• Partition Coefficient: Not Available
• Adsorption Coefficient: Not Available

Exposure Guidelines:

• ADI: Not Available
• MCL: Not Available
• RfD: Not Available
• PEL: 20 mg/m3 (8-hour) [14]
• HA: Not Available
• TLV: Not Available

Basic Manufacturer:

DowElanco
9330 Zionsville Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268-1054

• Phone: 800-258-3033
• Emergency: Not Available
  

References:

References for the information in this PIP can be found in Reference List Number 10

DISCLAIMER: The information in this profile does not in any way replace or supersede the information on the pesticide product labeling or other regulatory requirements. Please refer to the pesticide product labeling.