| Thifensulfuron (Ref: IN L9225) |
![]() Last updated: 03/02/2026 |
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(Also known as: thifensulfuron acid) |
| SUMMARY |
| Hazard alerts |
The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.
| PHT: Environmental fate | PHT: Ecotoxicity | PHT: Human health | Highly Hazardous Pesticide |
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A post-emergence herbicide for the control of grass and broadleaved weeds, normally used as the methyl variant. Is also a pesticide transformation product | |
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Black bindweed; Charlock; Chickweed; Dead nettle; Fat-hen; mayweed; Common poppy; Shepherd's purse | |
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Cereals including wheat, barley, tritical, rye, oats; Corn/maize; Soybean | |
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| GB regulatory status |
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Approved | ||
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31/10/2031 | ||
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Check label - may vary with formulation |
| EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Approved | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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France/Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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31/10/2031 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Additional information |
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| Chemical structure |
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None | |
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C₁₁H₁₁N₅O₆S₂ | |
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CC1=NC(=NC(=N1)OC)NC(=O)NS(=O)(=O)C2=C(SC=C2)C(=O)O | |
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LOQQVLXUKHKNIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |
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InChI=1S/C11H11N5O6S2/c1-5-12-9(15-11(13-5)22-2)14-10(19)16-24(20,21)6-3-4-23-7(6)8(17)18/h3-4H,1-2H3,(H,17,18)(H2,12,13,14,15,16,19) | |
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Yes |
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| Common Name | Relationship | Link |
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| thifensulfuron-methyl | Variant | ![]() |
| General status |
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Herbicide; Metabolite | ||||||||||||||
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Soil; Surface water; Groundwater | ||||||||||||||
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Sulfonylurea herbicide; Triazinylsulfonylurea herbicide | ||||||||||||||
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Synthetic | ||||||||||||||
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Selective, absorbed through foliage. Inhibits plant amino acid synthesis - acetohydroxyacid synthase AHAS | ||||||||||||||
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79277-67-1 | ||||||||||||||
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No data found | ||||||||||||||
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452 | ||||||||||||||
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- | ||||||||||||||
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91729 | ||||||||||||||
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No data found | ||||||||||||||
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373.0 | ||||||||||||||
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3-{[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)carbamoyl]sulfamoyl}thiophene-2-carboxylic acid | ||||||||||||||
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3-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylcarbamoylsulfamoyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid | ||||||||||||||
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3-[[[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid | ||||||||||||||
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B | ||||||||||||||
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2 | ||||||||||||||
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Not applicable | ||||||||||||||
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Not applicable | ||||||||||||||
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White solid | ||||||||||||||
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| Can be a metabolite of: |
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| thifensulfuron-methyl | Soil | 0.935 | Major fraction | |||||
| thifensulfuron-methyl | Groundwater | - | Relevant |
| Commercial |
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Current | |||
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1990, first registered USA | |||
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Usually formulated using the methyl variant. | |||
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Thifensulfuron is commercially produced through a multi-step synthesis that begins with the preparation of two key intermediates: a methoxy-substituted triazine and a thiophene carboxylic acid derivative. The process involves the nucleophilic substitution of a 2-chloro-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine with sulfamoyl isocyanate, followed by coupling with 3-amino-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid to form the sulfonylurea bridge. This reaction is typically carried out in polar aprotic solvents under controlled pH and temperature to ensure high selectivity and yield. | |||
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| Degradation |
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32.3 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderately persistent | |||||||
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32.3 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderately persistent | ||||||||
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29 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Non-persistent | ||||||||
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241 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
Persistent | ||||||||
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EU dossier 2014 lab studies DT₅₀ range 14.4-119.9 days, DT₉₀ range 68.5-513 days | ||||||||||
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. | ||||||||||
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| Soil adsorption and mobility |
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0.328 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Mobile | |||||||
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19.9 | ||||||||||
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0.850 | ||||||||||
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EU dossier 2014 Kf range 0.08-0.48 mL g⁻¹, Kfoc rane 6.9-34 mL g⁻¹. 1/n range 0.62-0.76 | ||||||||||
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| Fate indices |
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3.95 | Calculated | High leachability | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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7.97 X 10-01 | Calculated | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mobile | Calculated | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Known soil metabolites |
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| Known groundwater metabolites |
None
| Other known metabolites |
None
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| Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 2000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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7.0 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 90-day as methyl variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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> 1.3 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 2-yr as methyl variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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> 2510 | E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets Anas platyrhynchos3 = Unverified data of known source |
Low | ||||||||
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> 2000 | E4 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets Eisenia foetida4 = Verified data |
Low | ||||||||
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0.606 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Beta vulgaris as methyl variant5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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0.613 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Beta vulgaris as methyl variant5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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> 100 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) as methyl variant4 = Verified data |
Low | |||||||
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> 7.1 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) as methyl variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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> 225 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Aphidius rhopalosiphi as methyl variant5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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> 225 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Typhlodromus pyri as methyl variant5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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| Aquatic ecotoxicology |
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> 120 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Oncorhynchus mykiss5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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> 130 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Daphnia magna5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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82.2 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Lemna gibba 14 day5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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36.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Raphidocelis subcapitata5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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| Regulatory Threshold Levels (RTLs) used to calculate Total Applied Toxicity (TAT) |
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0.26 | Worst case of acute and chronic mammals | |||
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251 | Worst case of acute and chronic birds | |||
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400 | Worst case of acute and chronic earthworms | |||
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0.1212 | Worst case of non-target plants vegetative vigour and seedling emergence | |||
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0.142 | Worst case of contact and oral honeybees | |||
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112.5 | Worst case of parasitic wasps and predatory mites | |||
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1.2 | Worst case of temperate acute and chronic fish | |||
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1.3 | Worst case of temperate acute and chronic aquatic invertebrates | |||
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3.65 | Worst case of free-floating plants, rooted plants, acute and chronic algae |
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| General |
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High (class III) | - | - | ||||||||
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> 2000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Low | ||||||||
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7.0 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 90-day as methyl variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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> 1.3 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 2-yr as methyl variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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0.01 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat as methyl ester5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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2.0 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat as methyl ester5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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0.07 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat as methyl ester5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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| Health issues |
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No further information available | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handling issues |
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IMDG Transport Hazard Class 9 | |||
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Environment: H400, H410 | |||
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U (Unlikely to present an acute hazard) | |||
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UN3077 | |||
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Packaging Group III (minor danger) | |||
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Chemically stable under standard ambient conditions |
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thifensulfuron | ||
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| Record last updated: | 03/02/2026 |
| Contact: | aeru@herts.ac.uk |
| Please cite as: | Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |








