Linuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea) is a
phenylurea herbicide that is used to control the growth of grass and weeds for the purpose of supporting the growth of
crops
A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponi ...
like
soybean
The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses.
Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, from which tofu ...
s.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of action
Linuron acts via inhibition of
photosystem II
Photosystem II (or water-plastoquinone oxidoreductase) is the first protein complex in the light-dependent reactions of oxygenic photosynthesis. It is located in the thylakoid membrane of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Within the photos ...
, which is necessary for
photosynthetic electron transport in
plant
Plants are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic eukaryotes of the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all curr ...
s.
Effects in animals
Linuron has been found to produce
reproductive
The reproductive system of an organism, also known as the genital system, is the biological system made up of all the anatomical organs involved in sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are al ...
toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...
in animals by acting as an
androgen receptor (AR)
antagonist, and for this reason, is considered to be an
endocrine disruptor
Endocrine disruptors, sometimes also referred to as hormonally active agents, endocrine disrupting chemicals, or endocrine disrupting compounds are chemicals that can interfere with endocrine (or hormonal) systems. These disruptions can cause ...
.
Consequently, in January 2017, the
Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) of the European Commission DG "Health and food safety" decided to not renew its regulatory approval.
Sales are expected to cease by June 2017.
See also
*
Diuron
DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) is an algicide and herbicide of the aryl urea class that inhibits photosynthesis. It was introduced by Bayer in 1954 under the trade name of Diuron. History
In 1952, chemists at E. I. du Pont d ...
*
Monolinuron
Monolinuron is a pesticide, more specifically a selective systemic herbicide and an algaecide. As an herbicide, it is used to control broad-leaved weeds and annual grasses in vegetable crops such as leeks, potatoes, and dwarf French beans. Mono ...
References
{{Androgen receptor modulators
Endocrine disruptors
Herbicides
Nonsteroidal antiandrogens
Organochlorides
Ureas