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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 9/95.

STREPTOMYCIN

TRADE OR OTHER NAMES: Streptomycin is also called streptomycine, streptomycin sulfate or streptomycin nitrate. Trade names include Agri-mycin-17, Plantomycin; Agrept, Rimosidin, and AS-50 (1, 207).

REGULATORY STATUS: Streptomycin is a General Use Pesticide (GUP) registered for use on fruits and vegetables. It may also be used on nonfood crops such as tobacco and greenhouse ornamentals (351).

INTRODUCTION: Streptomycin is a human antibiotic drug which also is used to control bacteria, fungi, and algae in crops. It is an aminoglycoside with systemic action that is used on fruits, vegetables, tobacco, ornamentals, and in ponds and aquaria (207, 351). It controls a number of commercially important bacterial plant pathogens including fireblight of pear and apple, walnut blight, tomato canker, bacterial canker, angular leaf blight, and others. Gram positive species of bacteria are much more susceptible to its action than gram negative species (223). The EPA has classified it as Toxicity class IV- relatively non-toxic. Products containing streptomycin bear the Signal Word "Caution" because of its potential to cause skin reactions. It is available as a water soluble powder, pellets or emulsifiable concentrate (351).

TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS

ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND GUIDELINES

Streptomycin is an off-white powder derived from Streptomyces griseus bacteria (223). It is odorless and has a slightly bitter taste. The salt forms are hygroscopic but are not affected by exposure to light or air (225). Neutral solutions of streptomycin are stable for weeks at temperatures below 25 degrees C. Streptomycin is more active at an alkaline pH (347). It is unstable in strong acids and alkalis. It is incompatible with alkaline materials (1).

Physical Properties:

Exposure Guidelines:

BASIC MANUFACTURERS:

Pfizer, Inc.
Minerals Division
640 N. 13th St.
Easton, PA 18042

Merck & Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 450
Three Bridges, NJ 08887-0450

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 label/ing or other regulatory requirements. Please refer to the pesticide product label/ing.