**UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460** 

**O FFICE PREVENTION,**  **PESTICIDES AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES MEMORANDUM**  **January 09**  **, 201 3**  **SUBJECT** : Ecotoxicity Risk assessment for Octenol Registration Review Decision Document. EPA Reg No.: 72563 - Registration Review Case#: 6033 CAS No.: 3391 - 86 - 4 PC Code: 069037 **FROM** : Miachel Rexrode, Ph.D., Senior Biologist /s/ 01/09 /201 3

Biochemical Pesticides Branch Biopesticide & Pollution Prevention Division (7511P) **TO:** Leonard Cole, Regulatory Action Leader /s/ 01 / 09 /201 3 Biochemical Pesticides Branch Biopesticide & Pollution Prevention Division (7511P) **ACTION REQUESTED** T he following is an ecotoxicity assessment for octenol in support of the Registration Review Work Plan. **RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Executive Summary**  Octenol (1 - Octen - 3 - ol) is a naturall y occurring straight chain aliphatic alcohol by - product that is produced in plants and animals . Itwas originally reported to be found in mushrooms and has been isolated also from the essential oils of lavender. Octenol is found in fruit (bananas, melons, currants, and filberts), vegetables (asparagus, tomatoes), cheese, fish, meat (chicken), coffee, tea, etc. This compound is a semiochemical which modifies the behavior of some insects and when used as an active ingredie nt with pesticides, octenol can act as an attract ant to certain species of mosquitoes and biting flies . Itmay also be used in conjunction with carbon dioxide and electronic devices that in turn kill trapped insects. Studies show that when combined with carbon dioxide, octenol can be act as an attractant to many dipterian species that include no - see - ums ,mosquitoes, and biting midges. T he EPA has noted that when octenol is released into air, it is not

harmful to humans, to non - targeted organisms, or to the environment . There is potential for toxicity if octenol is ingested .

**Figure 1.0 1 -**  **octen -**  **3 -**  **ol** Octenol ( l - octen - 3 - ol ) was given Generall y Recognized a s Safe (GRAS) status by Flavoring Extract Manufacturers' Association (FEMA). It is also alread y approved b y the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food use (21 CFR 121.1104). In 1974 the Council of Europe included octenol in their list of artificial flavoring substances that may be added to foodstuffs without hazard to public health. **Chemi cal and Fate Properties**  Table 1.0 shows that octenol is not water soluble, has a very low potentia l for bioaccumulation (L og P = 2.60 ), and is volatile (0.153 mm Hg). **Table 1.0 Chemical and Fate Properties for 1** 
**– octenol**  **- 3**  **- ol**  **1 OPPTS Guideline**  **No. Property**  **Description of Result** 830.6302 Color C olorless 830.6303 Phy sical State Liquid 830.7220 Boiling point/Range 180.32 0 C 830.7550 830.7560 830.7570 Partition Coefficient (n Octanol/Water) Log P = 2.60 830.7840 Water Solubility Very soluble 1,836 mg/L 830.7950 Vapor Pressure 0.153 mm Hg @ 20°C 1 EPA 2003, 1 - octen - 3 - ol Fact Sheet **Toxicolog** y The toxicology

values for octenol show that the compound is a Toxicity Category II for acute oral toxicity

( Oral LD 5 0 = 340 mg/kg ) ; Toxicity Category III for acute dermal toxicity ( LD 50 = 3,300 mg/kg); and a non skin irritant. The EPA Fact Sheet also notes that non - published summary information shows that octenol acute inhalation is Toxicity Category IV (LC 50 = 3.72 mg/L) and that the compound is a component of some perfumes (1%) where there have not been any incidents of eye or respiratory effects. **Ecological Effects** The Agency

has waived all ecological data requirements and noted that it does not expect a risk to non - target wildlife fro m the proposed uses of octenol ( i.e., mosquito and biting fl y lure for bug zapper and traps) due to the low exposure anticipated in the formulated product ( i.e., FlowtronOctenol Mosquito Attractant) . Although octenol is acutel y toxic to mammals on an oral basis

((LD 50 = 340 mg/kg) , the compound is packaged in a multilayer, plastic laminate construction and housed in an applicator before it is used in a device (electronic) that can kill/trap insects. A review (11/27/12) of the Agency Environmental I ncident Information S ys tem (EIISv2.1.1; 2012) showed that there were no reports of adverse effects from octenol exposure to non - target species **Conclusions** Octenol is a semiochemical that acts b y modifying behavior of the pest species and appears to be an attractant of hemato phagous arthropods , especially dipterans . The compound is very water soluble but the vapor pressure for octenol shows that the compound is highly volatile and the log k ow shows a limited potential for bioconcentration. The Agency waived the requirements for toxicity studies on this compound based on the following: packaging methods; the small load per unit/applicator; relatively slow e vaporation rate of 2 - 3 mg/hr (Kulasewski, 2002) ; the widespread occurrence of th is compound in plants, animals and edible fruits/vegetables; approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in food; and octenol is a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) compound. The use of octenol as an attractant is not expected to result in increased lethal exposure to non target organisms that is above normal background levels; consequentl y, adverse effects to these terrestrial and aquatic organisms is low and effects to endangered/threatened species is a **No Effect** . **References** Kulasewski, J. 2002. Determination of the release rate of Mosquito Magnat Octenol Lure. American Bioph ys ics Corp. MRID 4814920 Touhey , J.G. 1990. A review of the current bases for the United States Environmental Protection Agency 's policies for the regulation of pheromones and other semiochemicals, together with a review of the available relevant data which may impact the assessment of risk for these classes of chemicals. Part 1: straight chain alcohols, acetate esters and aldehydes. Unpublished report.