{"hq_id":"hq-p-out-000037","name":"Fruit tree spray (dormant oil + fungicide)","category":{"primary":"outdoor","secondary":"garden pesticide","tags":["fruit tree spray","dormant oil","captan","copper fungicide","mineral oil"]},"product_tier":"OUT","overall_risk_level":"moderate","description":"Combination fruit tree spray applied during dormant season containing horticultural mineral oil (refined petroleum oil) for overwintering insect/egg control and captan or copper-based fungicide for disease prevention. Mineral oil suffocates insect eggs and scale insects by coating them in an impermeable film. Captan is a broad-spectrum phthalimide fungicide; classified as a probable human carcinogen (EPA Group B2). Copper fungicides (copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture) accumulate in soil with repeated application and are toxic to aquatic organisms. Eye/skin irritant.","synthesis":{"derived_risk_level":"low","synthesis_confidence":0.82,"synthesis_method":"compound_composition","context_used":"human_adult","context_source":"product_users","exposure_modifier":1.1,"vulnerability_escalated":false,"escalation_reason":null,"compounds_resolved":3,"compounds_total":3,"synthesis_date":"2026-03-27","synthesis_version":"1.0.0"},"hazard_summary":{"sensitive_populations":"adult (user)","overall_risk":"moderate","primary_concerns":["Captan carcinogenicity: EPA Group B2 probable human carcinogen","Copper soil accumulation: repeated use over years leads to toxic copper levels","Eye/skin irritation during application"],"exposure_routes":"dermal, inhalation, ocular"},"exposure":{"routes":["dermal","inhalation","ocular"],"contact_types":["skin_direct","inhalation","eye_splash"],"users":["adult"],"duration":"acute","frequency":"1-3_times_per_year","scenarios":["Skin/eye contact during mixing and spraying","Inhalation of spray mist","Copper accumulation in garden soil over years","Fruit residues if applied too close to harvest"],"notes":"Dormant season application (1-3 times/year) limits exposure frequency. Copper accumulation is the long-term environmental concern."},"consumer_guidance":{"red_flags":[{"indicator":"Years of copper fungicide use in same soil","meaning":"Copper accumulates and can reach phytotoxic/environmentally toxic levels","action":"Test soil copper levels periodically; rotate with non-copper fungicides"}],"green_flags":[{"indicator":"Mineral oil-only spray (no captan)","meaning":"Eliminates carcinogenicity concern; effective for insect/egg control alone","verification":"Check that active ingredient is only mineral oil / horticultural oil"}],"what_to_ask":[],"alternatives":[{"name":"Sulfur-based fungicide spray","notes":"Non-carcinogenic; effective for many fruit tree diseases; does not accumulate in soil like copper"},{"name":"Horticultural oil only (no fungicide)","notes":"Effective for overwintering insect control without captan/copper concerns"}],"notes":null},"regulatory":{"applicable_regulations":[{"jurisdiction":"USA","regulation":"EPA FIFRA — Registered pesticide","citation":null,"requirements":"EPA registration required.","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":null,"enforcing_agency":"EPA","penalties":null,"source_ref":null}],"certifications":[],"labeling":{"required_disclosures":["EPA registration","Active ingredients","Pre-harvest interval"],"prop65_warning":{"required":null,"chemicals":[],"endpoint":null,"notes":null},"ghs_labeling":{"required":null,"signal_word":"WARNING","pictograms":["exclamation_mark","environment"],"hazard_statements":["Causes serious eye irritation","Toxic to aquatic life"],"notes":null},"hidden_ingredients":{"trade_secret_protected":null,"categories_hidden":[],"estimated_count":null,"known_concerns":null,"notes":null},"notes":null},"recalls":[],"regulatory_gap":null,"notes":null},"lifecycle":{"recyclable":false,"disposal_guidance":"Hazardous waste disposal","hazardous_waste":true,"expected_lifespan":"2-3_years"},"formulation":{"form":"liquid_concentrate","key_ingredients":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000415","name":"Refined mineral oil (horticultural oil)","role":"insecticide_ovicide","concentration_pct":"70-98"},{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000138","name":"Captan","role":"fungicide","concentration_pct":"5-12"},{"hq_id":"hq-c-ino-000073","name":"Copper sulfate (basic copper sulfate)","role":"fungicide_alt","concentration_pct":"5-15"},{"hq_id":null,"name":"Emulsifiers","role":"dispersal","concentration_pct":"2-5"}],"certifications":[]},"materials":{"common":[],"concerning":[],"preferred":[]},"compound_composition":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000138","compound_name":"Captan","role":"fungicide","typical_concentration":null},{"hq_id":"hq-c-ino-000073","compound_name":"Copper sulfate","role":"fungicide","typical_concentration":null},{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000415","compound_name":"Mineral oil (horticultural)","role":"insecticide","typical_concentration":null}],"identifiers":{"common_names":["fruit tree spray","dormant oil spray","orchard spray","dormant spray"],"aliases":[],"manufacturer":null,"brands":[]},"brand_examples":[{"brand":"Generic Mass-Market Brand A","manufacturer":"Consumer Products Corporation","market_position":"mass_market","notable":"Widely available mass-market option"},{"brand":"Generic Mass-Market Brand B","manufacturer":"Consumer Goods Ltd","market_position":"mass_market","notable":"Popular budget alternative"},{"brand":"Premium Brand A","manufacturer":"Premium Consumer Inc","market_position":"premium","notable":"Upscale premium positioning"}],"sources":[{"type":"expert_curation","name":"ALETHEIA Safety Database","date":"2026-03-24"},{"type":"regulation","title":"EPA FIFRA — Registered pesticide","jurisdiction":"USA","id":"src_8254193a"},{"id":"epa_captan_iris","type":"regulatory","title":"US EPA IRIS: Captan — Cancer Classification B2 (Probable Human Carcinogen), Cancer Slope Factor, and Chronic Reference Dose (1999)","year":1999,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000138"},{"id":"epa_captan_registration","type":"regulatory","title":"US EPA: Captan Registration Eligibility Decision — Dietary Risk Assessment, Occupational Exposure, Ecological Risk, and Reregistration Eligibility (2004)","year":2004,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000138"},{"id":"cuso4_regulatory_2020","type":"regulatory","title":"Copper Sulfate CuSO4 Bluestone Bordeaux Mixture 1882 Millardet Downy Mildew Potato Blight; Cytochrome c Oxidase SOD1 Ceruloplasmin Lysyl Oxidase Essential Cu; Wilson Disease ATP7B Menkes ATP7A; PCB Printed Circuit Board Copper Electroplating Acid Bath; RDA 900 μg/day UL 10 mg/day; Vineyard Soil Accumulation EU 6 kg/ha/year Organic Farming; Indian Childhood Cirrhosis Copper Brass Vessels; Aquatic Biotic Ligand Model BLM EQS; EU CLP Aquatic Acute 1 H400; IARC Not Evaluated Not Carcinogen","year":2020,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-ino-000073"},{"id":"niosh_metalworking_fluids_1998","type":"regulatory","title":"NIOSH Criteria Document: Occupational Exposure to Metalworking Fluids — Mineral Oil Cutting Fluids; PAH Skin Carcinogenicity; Biological Monitoring; Recommendations for Severely Hydrotreated Oils","year":1998,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000415"},{"id":"iarc_mineraloils_vol100f_2012","type":"iarc_monograph","title":"IARC Monographs Volume 100F: Mineral Oils (Untreated and Mildly Treated) — Group 1; British Mule Spinner Scrotal Cancer; PAH Content; Hydrotreatment Degree and Carcinogenicity; Highly Refined Oils Group 3","year":2012,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000415"},{"type":"regulatory","title":"US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)","jurisdiction":"USA","id":"src_defdd418","extraction":"description_reference"}],"meta":{"schema_version":"4.0.0","last_updated":"2026-03-24","timestamp":"2026-05-01T14:21:06.180Z"}}