3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole

• Aminotriazole
• Triazol- 3-amine
• 1,2,4-triazol- 3 -ylamine
• 3-amino -1H- 1 ,2,4-triazole
• 3 -AT

Colorless solid

Fixed

1.14 g · cm -3

159 ° C

Decomposes on heating

Well in water (280 g · l-1 at 25 ° C)

Attention

0.2 mg · m-3

76.8 kJ / mol

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Amitrole is a chemical compound selected from the group of triazoles, which is used as herbicide.

History

In the U.S., amitrole was the trigger for the "Cranberry Scare ' of 1959. The herbicide had been approved in 1957 by the Department of Agriculture for use on cranberry fields, apply it on the condition just after harvest. Some farmers apparently failed to keep to this edition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) seized in 1957 some games amitrolbelasteter cranberries. They were stored in cold storage until the danger of the chemical was released. According to a 1959 concluded long-term study in rats caused amitrole thyroid cancer. A 1958 law enacted before wrote that food should contain no traces of cancer-causing substances in animal experiments. The FDA was therefore destroy the frozen berries. On November 9, 1959 a few weeks before Thanksgiving, recommended that the Health Minister Arthur S. Flemming no cranberries to buy before the FDA have not tested all stocks on amitrole. Both the cranberry producers and manufacturers of amitrole (American Cyanamid and Amchem ) protested strongly, especially since no contaminated berries were found in the relevant year.

The prices for cranberries nevertheless fell sharply, large supermarket chains stopped the sale and some restaurants took the berries from their menus. To reassure the public, was Minister of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson known in his family would be served at Thanksgiving cranberries. Vice President Richard Nixon ate at a dinner four servings of cranberries.

The FDA made ​​it in time before Thanksgiving to check all stocks. Therefore, the excitement quickly put it back and the matter was forgotten. The American pesticide industry increased as a consequence of the " cranberry scare " their public relations.

Use

Amitrole is used as a herbicide, especially against broad-leaved weeds in cereals. It acts as a photosynthetic herbicide inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis. He said this lack of protection against photo-oxidation chlorophylls fade in the plants.

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland is not approved as a pesticide for amitrole.

Safety

Amitrole is slightly toxic, but is considered to be carcinogenic.