Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Acetic Acid (Vinegar)

General Information

• Product Names:

  Ecosharp Weed & Grass Killer (Ecoval Corp)
  Ecosharp Weed & Grass Killer Ready To Use (Ecoval Corp)
  Weed Works Weed & Grass Killer (Organic Works, Inc) 
  Burnout II Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate (St. Gabriel Laboratories)
  Moss Killer Concentrate (St. Gabriel Laboratories)
  Weed Pharm (Pharm Solutions Inc.)

• Chemical Class: Carboxylic acid
• Uses: Least-toxic weed managment
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Least-toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Not documented
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (27)
• Birth/Developmental Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Yes (27)
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Not documented
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Factsheet (3/2001)
  • Registration Review Decision: Pending
• Supporting information:
  • 8 Steps to a Toxic-Free Lawn (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Least-toxic Control of Weeds (Beyond Pesticides)
  • NCAP Pesticide Factsheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • PAN Pesticides Database: (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
  • Organic Weed Control With Vinegar. Webber, C. et. al. 2005. Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station Departmental Publication . Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
  • Spray Weeds With Vinegar? Comis, D. 2002. USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
  • Influence of Acetic Aacid on Regrowth of Dioecious Hydrilla from Root Crowns . Spencer, DF and Ksander, G. 1995.Journal of Aquatic Plant Management