Bromacil is an organic

compound Compound may refer to: Architecture and built environments * Compound (enclosure), a cluster of buildings having a shared purpose, usually inside a fence or wall ** Compound (fortification), a version of the above fortified with defensive struc ...

with the

chemical formula In chemistry, a chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbol ...

C₉H₁₃BrN₂O₂, commercially available as a herbicide. Bromacil was first registered as a pesticide in the U.S. in 1961.United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Bromacil". 1996, p.1-11. Accessed October 9, 2012 It is used for brush control on non-cropland areas.Cornell University. “Bromacil”. 1993, p. 1. Accessed October 9, 2012 It works by interfering with

photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored i ...

by entering the plant through the root zone and moving throughout the plant.USDOE-Bonneville Power Administration. 2000, p.1-9. Accessed October 9, 2012 Bromacil is one of a group of compounds called substituted uracils. These materials are broad spectrum herbicides used for nonselective weed and brush control on non-croplands, as well as for selective weed control on a limited number of crops, such as

citrus fruit ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...

and

pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuri ...

. Bromacil is also found to be excellent at controlling perennial grasses.

Safety

There are quite a few safety precautions that should be taken when dealing with Bromacil. Dry formulations containing bromacil must bear the word "Caution" and liquid formulas must signal "Warning." Care should be exercised when spraying Bromacil on plants because it will also stop the photosynthesis of the adjacent non-target plants, therefore killing them. Bromacil should never be used in residential or recreation areas for risk of exposure. Bromacil is slightly

toxic Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...

if individuals accidentally eat or touch

residue Residue may refer to: Chemistry and biology * An amino acid, within a peptide chain * Crop residue, materials left after agricultural processes * Pesticide residue, refers to the pesticides that may remain on or in food after they are applied ...

s and practically nontoxic if inhaled. Bromacil is a mild eye irritant and a very slight skin irritant. It is not a skin sensitizer.Washington State Department of Transportation. “Bromacil”. 2006, p.1-4. Accessed October 9, 2012 In studies using laboratory animals, bromacil is slightly toxic by the

oral The word oral may refer to: Relating to the mouth * Relating to the mouth, the first portion of the alimentary canal that primarily receives food and liquid **Oral administration of medicines ** Oral examination (also known as an oral exam or or ...

dermal The dermis or corium is a layer of skin between the epidermis (with which it makes up the cutis) and subcutaneous tissues, that primarily consists of dense irregular connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. It is divided ...

, and inhalation routes and has been placed in Toxicity Category IV (the lowest of four categories) for these effects. This herbicide should be stored in a cool, dry place and after any handling a thorough hand-washing is advised. In regards to occupational exposure, the

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, ) is the United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the C ...

has recommended workers handing bromacil not exceed an exposure of 1 ppm (10 mg/m³) over an eight-hour time-weighted average.{{cite web , last =

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgi ...

, first = , author-link = , title = Bromacil , work = NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards , publisher = , date = 4 April 2011 , url = https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0063.html , doi = , accessdate = 13 November 2013

Facts

Bromacil (40%) is combined with the active ingredient

diuron DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) is an algicide and herbicide of the arylurea class that inhibits photosynthesis. It was introduced by Bayer in 1954 under the trade name of Diuron. History In 1952, chemists at E. I. du Pont de N ...

in the herbicide Krovar, which is used by companies such as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). It is in a group of chemicals that are absorbed through the gut and

excreted Excretion is a process in which metabolic waste is eliminated from an organism. In vertebrates this is primarily carried out by the lungs, kidneys, and skin. This is in contrast with secretion, where the substance may have specific tasks after lea ...

primarily in the

urine Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and in many other animals. Urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder. Urination results in urine being excreted from the body through the urethra. Cellular ...

. The

half-life Half-life (symbol ) is the time required for a quantity (of substance) to reduce to half of its initial value. The term is commonly used in nuclear physics to describe how quickly unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay or how long stable at ...

of bromacil in soils is about 60 days, but as long as 8 months in some conditions. Bromacil is available in granular, liquid, water-soluble liquid, and wettable powder formulations. Because bromacil is a possible human

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 ...

and systemic toxicity may result from intermediate exposure (one week to several months),

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an Independent agencies of the United States government, independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon pro ...

(EPA) assessed risk to workers using several major exposure scenarios. Bromacil is stable to

hydrolysis Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water is the nucleophile. Biological hydrolys ...

under normal environmental conditions.

Applications

Bromacil is applied mainly by sprayers including boom, hand-held,

knapsack A backpack—also called knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, rucksac, pack, sackpack, booksack, bookbag or backsack—is, in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders ...

, compressed air, tank-type, and power sprayers. Bromacil is also applied using aerosol, shaker, or sprinkler cans. Solid forms of bromacil are spread using granule applicators and spreaders. In the United States, application using aircraft is allowed only for Special Local Need registrations to control vegetation on the Department of Defense's Yakima Firing Center in the state of

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

References

Herbicides Pyrimidinediones Organobromides