Nitrofen

• 2,4- dichloro-1- (4- nitrophenoxy ) benzene
• 2,4-dichlorophenyl -4 '- nitrophenyl ether (IUPAC)

Techn. Product: brown; Pure substance: Colorless crystals

Fixed

1.8 g · cm -3

70-71 ° C

180-190 ° C ( 0.33 hPa)

1 MPa ( 40 ° C)

Practically insoluble in water, soluble in acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol, methylene chloride and xylene

Risk

740 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Nitrofen is a herbicide, which has long been used in agriculture. It was developed in 1964 in the U.S. as herbicides and worldwide, including in the GDR, sold under the trade name Trizilin, TOK and Trazalex. Nitrofen residues in eggs and poultry dissolved in the summer of 2002 from the nitrofen scandal.

Nitrofen interferes with the hormonal system. It is similar to a thyroid gland hormone and is considered to be mutagenic ( mutagenic ). In animal experiments, nitrofen has been shown to be carcinogenic and teratogenic. Because it is not metabolized by the body, it accumulates in the feeding of animals in adipose tissue. In laying hens, it may pass into the eggs.

Use

The application of nitrofen is prohibited in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1980. Since 1990, the ban also applies to East Germany. The European Union has banned nitrofen 1988 for all Member States. In Switzerland, nitrofen is no longer authorized.

As a selective contact herbicide nitrofen was used mainly by the pre- process. Since it is only effective if the influence of light, it should not be incorporated into the soil. Nitrofen was used especially against grass weeds in grain cultivation, especially against Windhalm and blackgrass. In addition, there was, for example, also used in the cultivation of vegetables, potatoes and cotton against grasses and broadleaf weeds.

It is a brown, crystalline powder, and has been treated as a wettable powder or a 25 % strength emulsion concentrate.

Limits

After the Maximum Residue Level Regulation ( RHmV ) of 21 October 1999, the tolerable amount is up to nitrofen per kilogram of food at more than 0.01 milligrams. As a result of nitrofen scandal (see below ) the limit for baby and toddler food was lowered to 0.005 mg. The detection limit for nitrofen is 0.004 mg / kg.

Nitrofen scandal

The nitrofen scandal broke in the summer of 2002 in Germany. 1988, a complete ban on sales and use the herbicidal active ingredient nitrofen and nitrofen substances in the then EC (now the EU ) was adopted, and thus also in the Federal Republic, regardless of where in 1980 the sales authorization had expired nitrofen agent.

At this time the GDR still existed, further admitted prohibited pesticides in the nitrofen and others in the EU and were in use. It was incorporated in 1990 for the new federal states. Accordingly, after the reunification, there was yet stored remainders. So grain was in a warehouse, which had not been adequately checked and cleaned after storage of pesticides, stored for animal feed. The grain was thereby contaminated with nitrofen when it was fed to poultry. Since the grain was sold as organic feed, especially eggs and poultry from organic farms were affected.

For the first time noticed the increased Nitrofenwerte were in November 2001 in a baby food manufacturer, whose laboratory proved the values. First, the operation tried its suppliers to move to remedy the situation, but failed. The increased values ​​remained relatively so long undetected because it was not tested at this time because of the ban longstanding routinely nitrofen. The European Commission has been informed of the rapid alert system for food and feed of the contamination in knowledge also in June 2002. The food scandal brought briefly the Consumer Protection Minister Renate Künast in distress.

The resulting scandal by the indirect and direct damage was estimated by the German Farmers' Association to around 500,000 euros and was instrumental in Regulation ( EC) No 1935/ 2004 ", with food to come into contact materials and articles which are intended " for.