Tetrachlorvinphos is an
organophosphate insecticide used to kill
flea
Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about long, a ...
s and
tick
Ticks (order Ixodida) are parasitic arachnids that are part of the mite superorder Parasitiformes. Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external parasites, living by ...
s.
[
]
History
Tetrachlorvinphos was initially registered for use in the United States in 1966 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of comme ...
. Tetrachlorvinphos was originally registered for use on various food crops, livestock, pet animals, and in or around buildings. The crop uses were voluntarily canceled from product registrations in 1987. In 2014, the Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a United States-based 501(c)(3) non-profit international environmental advocacy group, with its headquarters in New York City and offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Bo ...
(NRDC) filed a lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it ...
(EPA) seeking EPA to respond to NRDC's 2009 petition to ban tetrachlorvinphos in common pet flea treatment products.
Human health hazards
Symptoms of exposure to this material include increased perspiration
Perspiration, also known as sweating, is the production of fluids secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals.
Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The eccrine sweat glands are distr ...
, nausea
Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. While not painful, it can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the ...
, lachrymation
Tears are a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands (tear gland) found in the eyes of all land mammals. Tears are made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and mucins that form layers on the surface of eyes. The different types of ...
, salivation, blurred vision, diarrhea
Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin w ...
, pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema, also known as pulmonary congestion, is excessive liquid accumulation in the tissue and air spaces (usually alveoli) of the lungs. It leads to impaired gas exchange and may cause hypoxemia and respiratory failure. It is due t ...
, respiratory embarrassment and convulsions. The chemical material may be absorbed through the skin and is a lachrymator. It is a cholinesterase inhibitor
Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), also known as anti-cholinesterase, are chemicals that prevent the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or butyrylcholine. This increases the amount of the acetylcholine or butyrylcholine in the syn ...
and is a positive animal carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis (the formation of cancer). This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive subs ...
.
Chemical properties
The substance is insoluble in water. Flash point data are not available for this chemical; however, it is probably combustible. Tetrachlorvinphos is slowly hydrolyzed in neutral and aqueous acidic media. Is rapidly hydrolyzed in alkaline media.
Alternative Chemical Names
This is a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.
References
''This article contains public domain text from the EPA and the NOAA ''.
External links
Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP)
Environmental Protection Agency
{{Acetylcholine metabolism and transport modulators
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Organophosphate insecticides
Chloroarenes
IARC Group 2B carcinogens
Methoxy compounds