Carbofuran

Carbofuran
Carbofuran
Carbofuran
Carbofuran
Carbofuran
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2,2-Dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate
Other names
Furadan, Curater, Furacarb
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.014.867 Edit this at Wikidata
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C12H15NO3/c1-12(2)7-8-5-4-6-9(10(8)16-12)15-11(14)13-3/h4-6H,7H2,1-3H3,(H,13,14) checkY
    Key: DUEPRVBVGDRKAG-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • CNC(=O)Oc1cccc2c1OC(C)C2
Properties
C12H15NO3
Molar mass 221.256 g·mol−1
Appearance White, crystalline solid
Density 1.18 g/cm3
Melting point 151 °C (304 °F; 424 K)[4]
Boiling point 313.3 °C (595.9 °F; 586.5 K)
320 mg/L[1]
Solubility Highly soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, acetonitrile, methylene chloride, cyclohexanone, benzene, and xylene[2]
log P 2.32 (octanol/water)[3]
Hazards
Flash point 143.3 °C (289.9 °F; 416.4 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
8–14 mg/kg (oral, rat)
19 mg/kg (oral, dog)
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 none[5]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 0.1 mg/m3[5]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 N.D.[5]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Carbofuran is a carbamate pesticide, widely used around the world to control insects on a wide variety of field crops, including potatoes, corn and soybeans. It is a systemic insecticide, which means that the plant absorbs it through the roots, and from there the plant distributes it throughout its organs where insecticidal concentrations are attained. Carbofuran also has contact activity against pests. It is one of the most toxic pesticides still in use.

It is marketed under the trade names Furadan, by FMC Corporation and Curaterr 10 GR, by Bayer among several others.[6]

Carbofuran exhibits toxicity mediated by the same mechanism as that of the notorious V-series nerve agents and presents a risk to human health. It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States as defined in Section 302 of the United States Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.[7]

Usage

[edit]

Carbofuran is used around the world for a wide variety of crops. It is widely used in Asia, Australia, and South America. It is commonly used in Malaysia for vegetables like eggplant (brinjal) where it is a legally registered pesticide.[8] Carbofuran acts through phloem sap against piercing-sucking pests such as green leafhoppers, brown plant hoppers, stem borers and whorl maggots.[9] Usage has increased in recent years because it is one of the few insecticides effective on soybean aphids, which have expanded their range since 2002 to include most soybean-growing regions of the United States.[citation needed]

Chemistry

[edit]

The technical or chemical name of carbofuran is 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate, and its CAS Number is 1563-66-2.[10] It is manufactured by the reaction of methyl isocyanate with 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-hydroxybenzofuran.[11]

Toxicity

[edit]

Carbofuran has one of the highest acute toxicities to humans of any insecticide widely used on field crops (only aldicarb and parathion are more toxic). 1 ml (1/4 teaspoon) can be fatal to humans.[citation needed] Most carbofuran is applied by commercial applicators using closed systems with engineered controls so there is no exposure to it in preparation. However, in developing countries, occupational exposure to carbofuran and resultant carbofuran-serum protein labeling has been reported to impact human health and well-being.[12] Since its toxic effects are due to its activity as a cholinesterase inhibitor it is considered a neurotoxic pesticide.[citation needed] A recent study reports that carbofuran is a structural mimic of the neurohormone melatonin and could directly bind to MT2 melatonin receptor (Ki = 1.7 uM).[13] Disruption of melatonin signaling could impact the circadian rhythm balance and is linked to elevated risk of developing diabetes.[14]

Carbofuran is highly toxic to vertebrates with an oral LD50 of 8–14 mg/kg in rats[15] and 19 mg/kg in dogs.

Carbofuran is known to be particularly toxic to birds. In its granular form, a single grain will kill a bird. Birds often eat numerous grains of the pesticide, mistaking them for seeds, and then die shortly thereafter. Before the granular form was banned by the EPA in 1991,[16] it was blamed for millions of bird deaths per year. The liquid version of the pesticide is less hazardous to birds since they are not as likely to ingest it directly, but it is still very hazardous.[weasel words]

Carbofuran has been illegally used to intentionally poison wildlife not only in the US, Canada and Great Britain; poisoned wildlife have included coyotes, kites, golden eagles and buzzards. Secondary fatal poisoning of domestic and wild animals has been documented,[17][18] specifically raptors (bald eagles and golden eagles), domestic dogs, raccoons, vultures and other scavengers. In Kenya, farmers are using carbofuran to kill lions and other predators.[19][20]

In a number of publicized incidents worldwide, carbofuran has also been used to poison domestic pets.[21][22][23]

Illegally smuggled carbofuran is used on 90% of marijuana grown illegally on public land in California.[24][25][26] These illegal, carbofuran-contaminated California marijuana grows appear to be the source for the majority of marijuana consumed in states where marijuana hasn't been legalized.[27]

Carbofuran is an endocrine disruptor and a probable reproduction/development intoxicant.[15] At low-level exposures, carbofuran may cause transient alterations in the concentration of hormones. These alterations may consequently lead to serious reproductive problems following repeated exposure.[28][29] When exposed in utero or during lactation, a decrease in sperm motility and sperm count along with an increase in percent abnormal sperm was observed in rats at 0.4 mg/kg dose level.[30] In one study, the exposure of rats to sublethal amounts of carbofuran decreased testosterone by 88%, while the levels of progesterone, cortisol, and estradiol were significantly increased (1279%, 202%, and 150%, respectively).[29]

Bans

[edit]

Carbofuran is banned in Canada, Sri Lanka and the European Union.[31]

In 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it intended to ban carbofuran.[32] In December of that year, FMC Corp., the sole US manufacturer of carbofuran, announced that it had voluntarily requested that the EPA cancel all but six of the previously allowed uses of that chemical as a pesticide. With this change, carbofuran usage in the United States would be allowed only on corn, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, pine seedlings and spinach grown for seed.[33] However, in May 2009, the EPA canceled all food tolerances, an action which amounts to a de facto ban on its use on all crops grown for human consumption.[34]

Kenya is considering banning carbofuran,[35] but it is legal to buy over-the-counter in Kenya.[19]

Health scare in Thailand

[edit]

Due to nonregistration of 4 carcinogenic chemicals used on crops not listed in the Dangerous Substances Act of Thailand, vegetables with residues of methomyl, carbofuran, dicrotophos, and EPN were taken off supermarket shelves in July 2012.[36]

Death of lions in Kenya

[edit]

In 2009, the CBS television news magazine 60 Minutes ran an exposé discussing the use of Furadan by Kenyan farmers as a poison to kill African lions. The piece suggested that Furadan was a serious threat to the future of the lion population in Africa.[20] FMC has commented on this issue through the media and their websites including furadanfacts.com.[37] They engaged with government officials, NGOs and others to try and resolve the illegal use of pesticides to kill wildlife. The company took action to stop the sale of this product and instituted a buyback program in East Africa when it was determined that the illegal and intentional misuse of chemicals against wildlife could not be controlled by education or stewardship programs alone.[38][39] Despite this, however, National Geographic stated in 2018 that carbofuran "is still very much available" in Kenya.[40]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sharom MS, Miles JRW, Harris CR, McEwen FL (1980). "Behaviour of 12 Insecticides in soil and aqueous suspensions of soil and sediment". Water Res. 14 (8): 1095–1100. Bibcode:1980WatRe..14.1095S. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(80)90158-X.
  2. ^ US EPA/OPPTS; Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) Database on Carbofuran (1563-66-2). EPA-738-R-06-031 August 2006.
  3. ^ Hansch, C.; Leo, A.; D. Hoekman (1995). Exploring QSAR – Hydrophobic, Electronic, and Steric Constants. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society. p. 101.
  4. ^ Lide, David R. (1998). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. pp. 3–94. ISBN 978-0-8493-0594-8.
  5. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0101". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  6. ^ Ravichandra, N.G. (2018). Agrochemicals in Plant Disease Management. Scientific Publishers. p. 110. ISBN 978-93-87991-91-0. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  7. ^ 40 C.F.R.: Appendix A to Part 355—The List of Extremely Hazardous Substances and Their Threshold Planning Quantities (PDF) (July 1, 2008 ed.), Government Printing Office, archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2012, retrieved October 29, 2011
  8. ^ Sim, Siong Fong; Chung, Ling Yan; Jonip, Jocephine; Chai, Lian Kuet (December 23, 2019). "Uptake and Dissipation of Carbofuran and Its Metabolite in Chinese Kale and Brinjal Cultivated Under Humid Tropic Climate". Advances in Agriculture. 2019: 1–7. doi:10.1155/2019/7937086.
  9. ^ "Carbofuran - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  10. ^ "Carbofuran". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  11. ^ Sittig, M. (1980). Pesticide Manufacturing and Toxic Materials Control Encyclopedia. Chemical Technology Review Series, Environmental Health Review Series and Pollution Technology Review Series. Noyes Data Corporation. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-8155-0814-4. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  12. ^ Rehman, Tanzila; Khan, Mohd M.; Shad, Muhammad A.; Hussain, Mazhar; Oyler, Benjamin L.; Shad, Muhammad A.; Goo, Young Ah.; Goodlett, David R. (September 22, 2016). "Detection of Carbofuran-Protein Adducts in Serum of Occupationally Exposed Pesticide Factory Workers in Pakistan". Chemical Research in Toxicology. 29 (10): 1720–1728. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00222. ISSN 0893-228X. PMID 27657490.
  13. ^ Popovska-Gorevski, Marina; Dubocovich, Margarita L.; Rajnarayanan, Rajendram V. (February 20, 2017). "Carbamate Insecticides Target Human Melatonin Receptors". Chemical Research in Toxicology. 30 (2): 574–582. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00301. ISSN 0893-228X. PMC 5318275. PMID 28027439.
  14. ^ "Extramural Papers of the Month". National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Page about Carbofuran in the IUPAC's database". IUPAC – International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. IUPAC.
  16. ^ "Carbofuran". Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  17. ^ Wobeser et al. 2004. Secondary poisoning of eagles following intentional poisoning of coyotes with anticholinesterase pesticides in Western Canada. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40(2):163-172.
  18. ^ The Federal Wildlife Officer, Volume 10, No. 2, Summer 1996
  19. ^ a b Mynott, Adam (June 18, 2008). "Insecticide 'killing Kenya lions'". BBC News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Poison Takes Toll On Africa's Lions". 60 Minutes. CBS News. March 26, 2009. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018.
  21. ^ Dewhurst, Patrick (May 26, 2011). "Alarm over new pet poison". Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011.
  22. ^ Vušović, A. (February 25, 2011). "Psi u naselju Braće Jerković otrovani pesticidima". Blic (in Serbian). Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  23. ^ Grobler, Riann (August 3, 2019). "As many as 1 000 dogs poisoned per week in SA". News24. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  24. ^ Thompson, Don (August 28, 2018). "Toxic pesticides found at most illegal California pot farms". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019.
  25. ^ McDaniel, Piper (August 29, 2019). "Illegal cannabis farms still scarring public lands, two years after Prop. 64". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019.
  26. ^ Westervelt, Eric (November 12, 2019). "Illegal Pot Operations in Public Forests Are Poisoning Wildlife And Water". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved November 12, 2019 – via WNYC.
  27. ^ Chun, Rene (January–February 2019). "Ending Weed Prohibition Hasn't Stopped Drug Crimes". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019.
  28. ^ Lau, TK; Chu, W; Graham, N (June 2007). "Degradation of the endocrine disruptor carbofuran by UV, O3 and O3/UV". Water Science and Technology. 55 (12): 275–80. doi:10.2166/wst.2007.416. PMID 17674859.
  29. ^ a b Goad, Ryan T.; Goad, John T.; Atieh, Bassam H.; Gupta, Ramesh C. (2004). "Carbofuran-induced endocrine disruption in adult male rats". Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. 14 (4): 233–9. doi:10.1080/15376520490434476. PMID 20021136. S2CID 46194233.
  30. ^ Pant, N; Shankar, R; Srivastava, SP (May 1997). "In utero and lactational exposure of carbofuran to rats: effect on testes and sperm". Human & Experimental Toxicology. 16 (5): 267–72. Bibcode:1997HETox..16..267P. doi:10.1177/096032719701600506. PMID 9192206. S2CID 26042972.
  31. ^ UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC/11/6 section 2.2.3 of the European Union notification
  32. ^ US EPA (July 31, 2008). "Carbofuran Cancellation Process". US EPA. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  33. ^ Erickson, Britt E. (January 5, 2009). "Manufacturer Drops Carbofuran Uses". Chemical & Engineering News. Vol. 87, no. 1. p. 18. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  34. ^ "EPA Bans Carbofuran Pesticide Residues on Food". Environmental News Service. May 11, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  35. ^ "unknown". tradingmarkets.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  36. ^ "Cancer-causing chemical residues found in vegetables". Bangkok Post. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  37. ^ "Furadan Facts > Home". Archived from the original on May 3, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  38. ^ Todt, Ron (March 29, 2009). "Pa. pesticide maker vows steps to protect lions". USA Today. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016.
  39. ^ "Furadan Facts > Home". Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  40. ^ Dobb, Edwin (August 2018). "Why Poison Is a Growing Threat to Africa's Wildlife". National Geographic. Photographs by Charlie Hamilton James. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
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