Environmental Safety Evaluation Of Cumin Fungicide

Cuminum cyminum L., a species in the family of Umbelliferae, it has high fungicidalactivity. Cumic acid (4-isopropyl benzoic acid,) is the effective component which isseparated from its seed. The1%Cumic acid ME based on Cumin methanol extracts showedhigh efficiency on Rhizoctonia cerealis, Rhizoctonia solani et al. in field trial. In order topromote further application of the botanical fungicide, safety evaluation is criticallynecessary. Following the EPA (USA), OECD (European Union) and the ExperimentalGuideline for Environmental Safety Evaluation of Chemical Pesticide revised by ICAMA in2004, this study evaluated systematacially the toxicity of98%Cumic acid,1.0%Cumicacid ME, Cumin methanol extracts and the adjuvant on non-target organisms, the effect oncrops, and the behavior characteristics of Cumic acid in the environment. The main resultsare as follows:1. The toxicity on non-target organisms:(1) The acute toxicity of98%Cumic acid on quails is moderate, the other3kinds ofmaterial are low.(2) We presume that these material are no contact toxicity on bees; in the acute oraltoxicity test, the toxicity of Cumin methanol extracts and1.0%Cumic acid ME aremoderate, and98%Cumic acid is low.(3) These material are no contact toxicity on silkworms. They are low toxic in the oraltest of silkworms, but do effect on the growth and development.(4) The toxicity of these material on fish are low (LC50=161.23,19.33,28.42and328.71mg/L,96h).(5) Post14days, the LC50value of98%Cumic acid, Cumin methanol extracts and1.0%Cumic acid ME are826.62,358.68and829.22mg/L. They are low toxic onearthworms.(6) The toxicity of the Cumic acid-based products on tadpole are low(LC50=213.79,40.87,29.41and181.25mg/L,48h).(7) The wheat, rape and pepper are insensitive to Cumic acid-based products. Thepesticides are low risk on these crops. 2. The behavior of Cumic acid in the environment:(1) The half-life of98%Cumic acid in wheat soil, vegetable soil and fruiter soil are4.0471,5.0864and4.2396days, it degrades easily and small residues.(2) The98%Cumic acid is absorbed by soil, the black soil in Northeast has thestrongest adsorption ability (Kd=63.8868, a easy adsorption), the soil in Henan province isstronger (Kd=25.3292, a medium adsorption), the red soil in Jiangxi province is weakest(Kd=6.6314, a difficult adsorption).(3) Following the regulation that the R1is greater than50%,98%Cumic acid leacheddifficultly in the3kinds of soil.(4) The hydrolysis of98%Cumic acid fit the first level dynamic equation,25℃,t0.5=6.3134d (pH5.0)/7.6954d (pH7.0);50℃，t0.5=4.5155d (pH5.0)/5.3179d (pH7.0),it hydrolyzed easily.(5) The98%Cumic acid photolyzed easily with the half-life of8.632h.The results show that, the Cumic acid-based products are generally safe on non-targetorganisms, but they should be applied cautiously in mulberry orchard, and they are low riskto subsequent crops. At the same time,98%Cumic acid degrades easily and retained less; itdoes not pollute groundwater, and has good compatibility with environment.In a word,theCumin acid-based products are generally safe to the environment.