Diuron

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Definition of diruon:
Diuron is used as a herbicide on a variety of both crop and non-crop areas. It is also used as a mildewcide in paints and stains, and as an algaecide in commercial fish production. [1]
This is the common definition for diruon, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

Diuron
Diuron
Formula
C9H10Cl12N2O

In the USA diuron has been used since 1967. Durion is mainly used on citrus, berries, asparagus and pineapple. Right-of-way applications (e.g., the area around railroad tracks) are the greatest non-agricultural use of diuron, with approximately 1 million kilograms applied annually.

In water durion has a low tendency to adsorb to particles and organic matter, dispite its has a relatively low water solubility of 42 mg/l. It's a stable molecule in terrestrial systems but can be biodegraded by micro-organisms. It is expected to be much less stable in aquatic systems, where it's concentration might be halved in 30 days (according to lab experiments). Although it has a low potential towards bioaccumulation, it probably doesn't bioaccumulate or biomagnify in wild aquatic populations. [2]

It has a low toxicity for mammals, doses above 3,4 g per kg body weight are needed to induce acute toxicity. There is a higher for aquatic organisms: some fish species die at concentrations above 4,3 mg/l and some marine invertebrate species may die at concentrations above 1 mg/l. [3]. Algae are most vulnerable to the herbicide, it can be toxic for some algae species at concentrations of only 5 µg/l. [4]


Environmental standards and legislation

Included in the water framework list of priority substances


References