Toxicology of the Herbicide Acrolein: Risk Assessment in Aquatic Environments

Submersed weeds on irrigation systems reduce water delivery capacity, clog pumps and structures, rupture canals, increase leakages and losses of water, increase water costs, etc. (U.S.EPA, 2007). Herbicide applications are a commonly used procedure to control submersed weeds in irrigation canals because of its practicability, efficacy and cost. Acrolein, currently registered under the trade name MAGNACIDE® H by Baker Petrolite Corporation, has been used for many years in the United States (U.S.EPA, 2007), Canada (MOE, 2005), Australia (Bowmer & Sainty, 1977), and Argentina (Caldironi et al., 2004). Acrolein, also known as acraldehyde, acrylaldehyde, acrylic aldehyde, allylaldehyde, propenal, 2-propenal, prop-2-enal, prop-2-en-1-al, is a volatile, colourless, highly flammable liquid at ordinary temperature and pressure with a pungent odour. Its Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number is 107-02-8. The chemical formula for acrolein is C3H4O and the molecular weight is 56.06. Fig. 1 illustrates its chemical structure. Acrolein has a density of 0.84 g/mL, a water solubility of 206 g/L, and a vapour pressure of (kPa) 29.3 at 20oC. The log Kow (octanol/water partition coefficient) is -0.01 (high water solubility) and the log Koc (organic carbon/water partition coefficient) is 0.5 (low adsorption to soil) (WHO, 1991; U.S.EPA, 2003; ATSDR, 2007).