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The information in this profile may be out-of-date. It was last revised in 1996. EXTOXNET no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Please visit the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) to find updated pesticide fact sheets. If you don't find a fact sheet related to your question, feel free to call 1-800-858-7378. NPIC is open five days a week from 8:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time.

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E X T O X N E T

Extension Toxicology Network

Pesticide Information Profiles

A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of California at Davis and the Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program.

EXTOXNET primary files maintained and archived at Oregon State University

Revised June 1996

Ammonium sulfamate

Trade and Other Names: Ammonium sulfamate is also called AMS. Trade names include Amcide, Amicide, Amidosulfate, Ammate, Ammate X-NI, Fyran 206k, Ikurin, Silvicide, and Sulfamate.

Regulatory Status: Ammonium sulfamate was a General Use Pesticide (GUP) that was discontinued by Du Pont in 1988. It was considered toxicity class III - slightly toxic, and products containing ammonium sulfamate had the Signal Word CAUTION.

Chemical Class: sulfamate

Introduction: Ammonium sulfamate (AMS) is an herbicide used to control many types of woody plants, trees, herbaceous perennials, and annual broadleaf weeds and grasses. AMS is a contact herbicide, which means that it injures only those parts of the plant to which it is applied. It is used primarily to control undesired growth along rights-of-way and for general weed and poison ivy control around homes, commercial buildings, and fruit orchards. AMS is also used as a fertilizer.

Ammonium sulfamate is applied in water solution or oil-water emulsion as a leaf, or foliar spray for control of woody plants, or it is applied as crystals or concentrated solution to cuts in the bark or on freshly cut stumps of trees to prevent re-sprouting.

Formulation: Ammonium sulfamate is applied in water solution or oil-water emulsion as a leaf, or foliar spray for control of woody plants, or it is applied as crystals or concentrated solution to cuts in the bark or on freshly cut stumps of trees to prevent re-sprouting.

Toxicological Effects:

• Acute toxicity: Ammonium sulfamate is slightly toxic, with an oral LD50 of 3900 mg/kg in rats and 3100 mg/kg in mice [1,58]. However, contact with ammonium sulfamate may cause burns to the eyes [8]. The dust of ammonium sulfamate is irritating to the nose and throat and can cause coughing or difficult breathing if inhaled [8].
• Chronic toxicity: In a 105-day study with rats fed 500 mg/kg/day, AMS did not cause signs of poisoning. Some inhibition of growth was seen at doses of 1000 mg/kg/day [66]. There was no skin irritation, nor any signs of systemic toxicity, when 20% and 50% water-based solutions were applied to the shaved skin of rats [65].
• Reproductive effects: Reproduction was not impaired when rats were given dietary doses of 17.5 or 25 mg/kg/day of AMS for 15 months [8]. This suggests that AMS does not cause reproductive effects.
• Teratogenic effects: No data are currently available.
• Mutagenic effects: Limited data indicate that AMS in not mutagenic. The Ames/Salmonella assay was negative for AMS, indicating that it does not cause permanent changes in genetic material [8].
• Carcinogenic effects: A rat study indicates that AMS is not carcinogenic at doses of 25 mg/kg/day [8]. There are insufficient additional data to confidently determine the carcinogenicity status of AMS [67].
• Organ toxicity: Ammonium sulfamate may cause gastrointestinal tract problems if it is eaten [8].

• Fate in humans and animals: AMS is readily absorbed into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract [66]. Following oral administration of AMS to dogs for 5 days, 80 to 84% of the dose was excreted as sulfamic acid in the urine.

Ecological Effects:

• Effects on birds: AMS is practically nontoxic to birds. The oral LD50 is 3000 mg/kg in quail and 4200 mg/kg in ducks [22,1]. In a 14-day feeding study, 150 and 590 mg/kg/day AMS had no effect on quail. Quail fertility was not affected when 150 mg/kg/day was mixed with their feed for two 10-day periods [58].

• Effects on aquatic organisms: Ammonium sulfamate is practically nontoxic to fish. A 46% solution of AMS becomes toxic in perch at 300 mg/L water [30]. The LC50 (24-hour) of AMS is 1250 mg/L in harlequin fish [28]. A concentration of 30 mg/L of AMS had no effect on rainbow trout and aquatic invertebrates [8].
• Effects on other organisms: Deer were not harmed when they were fed AMS-treated leaves [28].

Environmental Fate:

• Breakdown in soil and groundwater: Ammonium sulfamate has a low to moderate persistence in soil and can be decomposed by soil microbes in a 6- to 8-week period [1,28]. In regions with less moisture, traces of AMS and its breakdown products may remain on or in soil, water, or a crop for longer periods of time [58]. Soil may become temporarily nonproductive if AMS is used at high rates [8]. At dosages of 400 to 600 kg/ha it can temporarily sterilize soil [8]. AMS does not readily bind, or adsorb, to soil particles. It dissolves readily and may leach through the soil to groundwater [8].
• Breakdown in water: Ammonium sulfamate absorbs moisture readily and is highly soluble in water [8].
• Breakdown in vegetation: Ammonium sulfamate is a contact herbicide, and causes injury only to the parts of the plant to which it is applied. It is absorbed rapidly through leaves, as well as through cut surfaces on wood and is translocated to other parts of the plant [58]. It is nonselective and capable of killing non-target plants [58].

Physical Properties:

• Appearance: Ammonium sulfamate is a colorless, odorless, hygroscopic, water soluble crystalline solid [1].
• Chemical Name: ammonium sulfamidate [1]
• CAS Number: 7773-06-0
• Molecular Weight: 114.13
• Water Solubility: 684,000 mg/L @ 25 C [1]
• Solubility in Other Solvents: i.s. in alcohol; s.s. in ethanol; s. in glycerols, glycols, and formamides [1]
• Melting Point: 131-132 C [1]
• Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature [1]
• Partition Coefficient: Not Available
• Adsorption Coefficient: 30 (estimated) [53]

Exposure Guidelines:

• ADI: Not Available
• MCL: Not Available
• RfD: 0.2 mg/kg/day [13]
• PEL: 5 mg/m3 (8-hour) (dust) (respirable fraction) [14]
• HA: 2 mg/L (lifetime) [67]
• TLV: Not Available

Basic Manufacturer:

DuPont Agricultural Products
Walker's Mill, Barley Mill Plaza
P.O. Box 80038
Wilmington, DE 19880-0038

• Phone: 800-441-7515
• Emergency: 800-441-3637
  

References:

References for the information in this PIP can be found in Reference List Number 10

DISCLAIMER: The information in this profile does not in any way replace or supersede the information on the pesticide product labeling or other regulatory requirements. Please refer to the pesticide product labeling.