Methiocarb

Methiocarb
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
3,5-Dimethyl-4-(methylthio)phenyl methylcarbamate
Systematic IUPAC name
3,5-Dimethyl-4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl N-methylcarbamate
Other names
Mercaptodimethur
Mesurol
Identifiers
2032-65-7 YesY
1881431
ChEBI CHEBI:38508 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL1076495 YesY
ChemSpider 15417 YesY
EC Number 217-991-2
Jmol interactive 3D Image
Image
KEGG C18651 YesY
MeSH Methiocarb
PubChem 16248
Properties
C11H15NO2S
Molar mass 225.312
Appearance Colourless crystals
Density 1.25 g cm−3
Melting point 118.5 °C (245.3 °F; 391.6 K)
Boiling point 311 °C (592 °F; 584 K) (degrades at 300 °C or 572 °F or 573 K)
0.027 g L−1
Solubility in Xylene 20 g L−1
Solubility in Acetone 144 g L−1
Solubility in Ethyl acetate 87 g L−1
Solubility in 1-Octanol 31 g L−1
log P 3.18
Vapor pressure .015 mPa
.12 mPa m3 mol−1
Hazards
Main hazards Skin irritant, neurotoxin
Flash point Not highly flammable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Methiocarb is a carbamate pesticide which is used as a bird repellent,[1] insecticide,[2] acaricide[2] and molluscicide[2] since the 1960s. Carbamates are widely used in agriculture as insecticides and herbicides. They are preferred instead of organochlorines because organochlorines are long lasting persistent in crops. Methiocarb has contact and stomach action on mites and neurotoxic effects on molluscs. Seeds treated with methiocarb also affects birds. Like the other carbamates, methiocarb inhibits reversibly acetylcholinesterase activity resulting in a cholinergic stimulation making methiocarb a potent neurotoxin. It can even cause acute toxicity[3] in humans if exposed for long periods of time or a sufficient dose. It is not listed as a carcinogen.[3] Methiocarb is also a known poison to water organisms.[3] Other names for methiocarb are mesurol[4] and mercaptodimethur.

Structure and reactivity

The carbamate functional group in methiocarb can be cleaved by cholinesterase to result in the carbamate, which binds to the cholinesterase, and the aromatic alcohol.

Synthesis

Methiocarb (3) is synthesised by Bayer from 4-methylthio-3,5-xylenol (1) and methyl isocyanate (2).[5] The xylenol (1) will act as the nucleophile in this reaction attacking the partially positively charged carbon in the isocyanate (2).

Mechanism of action

The product of the cleavage of the carbamate group of methiocarb is methylcarbamic acid which is bound to choline sterase after the reaction. The normal function of choline sterase is to cleave the acetyl-choline bond which results in the binding of acetic acid to choline sterase which is a fast reversible reaction. The carbamic acid also reversibly binds but the hydrolysis of the bond is slower and therefore the acid inhibits the function of choline sterase which results in elevated choline sterase levels. In comparison: organophosphates inhibit irriversibly and will therefore inhibit the acetylcholinesterase even more.

In addition to its cholinergic effects, methiocarb has been found to be an endocrine disruptor, acting as an estrogen, antiandrogen, and aromatase inhibitor.[6]

Metabolism

Methiocarb is biotransformed in the liver mainly by sulfoxidation. This can happen to methiocarb itself but also to the phenol group which is cleaved from methiocarb by choline-esterase. In some cases this same sulfur can be oxidised once more to give the sulfone. A minor pathway that occurs is the hydroxylation of the N-methyl.[7][8]

Absorption

Methiocarb can be taken up through different routes. The most common for humans is up take through the skin or as an aerosol, because of its use as a pesticide in agriculture. For insects and birds this would be by the oral route. The NOAEL’s of these routes have been determined as follows: For the oral route the NOAEL is set to 3.3 mg/kg per day for rats, based on a 2-year study. For absorption through the skin the NOAEL is set to 150 mg/kg per day for rabbits, based on the reduction of food consumption.[7]

When methiocarb is fed to rats at a dose of 50 ppm, it gives a reduction of brain cholinesterase by 14% and 5% in males and females respectively. When methiocarb is administered as an aerosol to rats, the highest concentration (96 mg/m3 in solvent) showed signs of involuntary muscle contraction (tremors). These signs weren’t observed in the other groups. The brain acetylcholine esterase is reduced in comparison to the solvent controls, to 61% and 74% for males and females respectively. There were no changes in organ weight. The NOAEL was determined to be 6 mg/m3 based on the reduction of brain acetylcholine esterase activity.[7]

Distribution

To determine the distribution of methiocarb through the body carbon-14 ([14C]) labeled methiocarb studies have been performed on rats. About 8 hours after IP injection of [14C]methiocarb more than 20 is present in the kidneys, 14 in the lungs, 14 in the heart, 6 in the body fat and 26 in the red blood cells. All the numbers are a measure of the radioactivity in dpm x 103/g of dried tissue. 30 Minutes after treatment gave, for all tissues except bodyfat, much higher values indicating that elimination takes place shortly after injection. Also an increase in all tissues except the red blood cells has been observed between 2 and 4 hours after injection. This indicates that after two hours redistribution takes place shortly followed by elimination. This radioactivity study only measured the [14C] so the compound could already be metabolized to different compounds with different toxicities, which is not indicated in this study.[9]

Toxicity

Exposure Acute toxicity
Dermal LD50(mg/kg bodyweight)
Rabbit >2000[7]
Rat >200[7]
Inhalation (1 hour) LC50(mg/m3)
Rat 1200[7]
Intraperitoneal LD50(mg/kg bodyweight)
Mouse 6[7]
Oral LD50(mg/kg bodyweight)
Dog 10[7]
Guinea Pig 40[7]
Mouse 25[7]
Rat 30[7]

Short term toxicity

In rats the cholinesterase activity fell down to 50 percent of the control values in 27 days where the dose applied in their diet was 2 mg/ kg bw in the first three days and 4 mg/kg bw for the next 24 days. No abnormal clinical signs were observed.[7][10] In rabbits methiocarb was applied to the skin to a group of ten at doses of 0, 60, 150 or 375 mg/kg bw per day for 6 h/day. Two out of ten rabbits with the low dose did not survive and with the high dose had a reduced food consumption. Cholinesterase activity was reduced in males with a high dose at 14 and 21 days of treatment. There were no intergroup differences observed in cholinesterase activity among females. The erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity is apparently not inhibited in a dose-related fashion. The duration of the study was 24 days.[7][11]

Long term toxicity

In mice a one-year study of 50 males and 50 females was performed. The mice received diets containing methiocarb at doses of 0, 15, 43 and 130 mg/kg bw per day in males and 0, 20, 57, and 170 mg/kg bw per day in females. Food consumption, behaviour and mortality rate were not affected at any dose. At one month the decrease in plasma acetylcholinesterase activity was the highest and the smallest reductions were observed at 24 months. Brain acetylcholinesterase activity was also lowered, more in males than in females.[7][12][13] In rats a two-year study of 60 rats was performed. The rats received diets containing 0, 3.3, 9.3 and 29 mg/kg bw per day for males and 0, 5, 14, and 42 mg/kg bw per day for females. Food consumption, behaviour and mortality rate were not affected at any dose. The total protein concentrations were raised at higher doses of methiocarb. The plasma acetylcholinesterase activity was lowered at the high dose at day one and from eight weeks onwards in males and at day one and 1, 2, 4 and 13 weeks in females. No brain acetylcholinesterase activity was observed.[7][14][15]

Environmental toxicity

Because methiocarb is widely used as an insecticide on crops, environmental risks were also studied to establish safety risks for human health. The metabolism of methiocarb in plants, soil and water have been proposed from radiolabeled [14C]methiocarb studies. In plants the major metabolites were methiocarb sulfoxide and methiocarb sulfoxide phenol. Environmental fate in water and soil has been determined from the metabolites formed by (an)aerobic degradation, photolysis, adsorption and leaching of methiocarb. In soil the half life of methiocarb sulfone phenol is 20 days, methiocarb sulfoxide phenol is 2 days, methiocarb 1.5 days and methiocarb sulfoxide 6 days. Methiocarb is mainly metabolized to methiocarb phenol and minor to methiocarb sulfoxide and methiocarb sulfoxide phenol. Also after 217 days no methiocarb or metabolites are present anymore in the soil. This is because a lot of gets metabolized to CO2. In water no methiocarb was present already after 32 days. The half life of methiocarb in water is strongly pH dependent but at pH 7 the half life is about 28 days.[16]

Efficacy

Methiocarb is used as toxin for different purposes. It ranges from snails, insects, rodents and even as a bird repellent. As an insecticide it is effective for thrips and has a low dose that is lethal for these animals. The LC99,99 for suspension concentrate is 0.34 g/L and for the wettable powder it is 2.30, which is a bit too much for effective use.10[17]

For the use as a molluscicide methiocarb is effective, but at a high dose. In a research with E. vermiculata, methiocarb showed to be the most effective as topical applicant (although DMSO was used as an solvent). The LD50 is 414 μg per snail and the LD99,99 is roughly estimated 1400 μg per snail for methiocarb. In comparison to methomyl which was more effective, with its LD50 was 90 μg per snail. Which is a lot lower than the LD50 of methiocarb.[18]

As snail bait methiocarb has the same effectiveness as methomyl for 1% (mass percent) and 2%. but the LC50 of methiocarb is higher than the one of methomyl. 0.93:0.31. They both reached an average mortality of 85%, by the use of 2% methiocarb/methomyl bait.[18]

In another comparison study (with M. obstructa) between methiocarb and methomyl. Methomyl showed again to be more effective. The LD50 in this study were 12 μg per snail for methomyl and 27 μg per snail for methiocarb. These compound were topically applied on the snails and these compounds were first dissolved in 95% ethanol and diluted with water to make the concentrations.[19]

As an avian repelled to protect fruit, methiocarb was in one research not effective. The birds still damaged the figs. This happened because the methiocarb was sprayed on the fruit. The birds pinched the fruits or peeled the skin of the fruit and ate the meat of the figs. In that manner these birds are very little or not exposed to the repellent.[20]

In another study with quelea, it was investigated if methiocarb had an adverse effect on the food choice. It showed that when quelea ate seeds with methiocarb, the next time they would chose some other food. This shows that methiocarb can be effective as a bird repellent.[21]

In one study methiocarb is shown to be not very effective against mice as an rodenticide. In the first field trial snail pellet of methiocarb were spread across the land, and killed almost 23% of the initial mice population in one night, but the population did not decrease(probably because of reinvasion of the neighbouring land). There hasn't been searched for carcasses after that, but birds were seen scavenging on carcasses. In the second field trial, grain was covered in methiocarb and strychnine and it showed a mortality rate of 40% for methiocarb and 90% for strychnine. Although methiocarb seems to be effective at first. Mice develop an aversion for the methiocarb, which makes it not very effective as rodenticide.[22]

Suicidal poisoning

Methiocarb is a plant protection agent and while suicide with these type of toxins is rare, there is one case reported of a suicide with methiocarb. An 80-year-old woman in Germany killed herself by drinking a bottle of Mesurol. The red/pink fluid was on her cloths, face and hands (probably because of the vomiting) and in the gastrointestinal tract as in the respiratory tract. The toxicological examination showed that the methiocarb uptake wasn’t completed and the concentration of methiocarb and its metabolite in the urine was low. This is due to the short duration of exposure. Elevated concentration of methiocarb may be the result from post-mortem uptake, but it could also be the post-mortem redistribution of methiocarb and metabolites from the gastrointestinal tract. The conclusion of the toxicological examination was death by acute poisoning of methiocarb.[23]

The amount of methiocarb in the stomach is calculated to compare it with the LD50 of rats. The amount of methiocarb is estimated to have been 6.1 gram (by a stomach volume of 1L). The weight of this woman was 53 kg. That would make 115 mg/kg bw. When compared to the LD50 for rats, which is 30 mg/kg, it is reasonable to say that this woman died of poisoning from methiocarb. Bear in mind that this is only the amount of methiocarb found in the stomach and that the rest was already methiocarb distributed through the body.[23]

Matrix Concentration of methiocarb Semiquantative detection of methiocarb-metabolite† Concentration ratio methiocarb/metabolite
Stomach 6100 μg/mL 65 μg/mL 94:1
Liver 25 μg/g 10 μg/g 2.5:1
Kidney 11 μg/g Not detected -
Heart blood 4.0 μg/mL 3.6 μg/g 1.1:1
Femoral vein blood Not detected 12 μg/mL -
Brain 2.5 μg/g Not detected -
Bile 2.0 μg/g Not detected -
Urine 1.9 μg/mL 1.5 μg/mL 1.3:1

†Semiquantitative analysis was performed by the approximation of similar extinction coefficients of mercaptodimethur and its metabolite descarbamoylmercaptodimethur at wavelength 200 nm.[23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bailey, PT; Smith, G (1 January 1979). "Methiocarb as a bird repellent on wine grapes". Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 19 (97): 247. doi:10.1071/EA9790247.
  2. 1 2 3 "Prevention, Pesticides And Toxic Substances: R.E.D. FACTS: Methiocarb" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Methiocarb". PAN Pesticides Database - Chemicals.
  4. ↑ Ozden, Sibel; Catalgol, Betul; Gezginci-Oktayoglu, Selda; Arda-Pirincci, Pelin; Bolkent, Sehnaz; Alpertunga, Buket (30 June 2009). "Methiocarb-induced oxidative damage following subacute exposure and the protective effects of vitamin E and taurine in rats". Food and Chemical Toxicology 47 (7): 1676–1684. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2009.04.018.
  5. ↑ Unger, Thomas A. (1996). Pesticide synthesis handbook. Park Ridge, N.J.: Noyes Publications. p. 86. ISBN 0-8155-1401-8.
  6. ↑ Raun Andersen, Helle; Vinggaard, Anne Marie; Høj Rasmussen, Thomas; Gjermandsen, Irene Marianne; Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen, Eva (2002). "Effects of Currently Used Pesticides in Assays for Estrogenicity, Androgenicity, and Aromatase Activity in Vitro". Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 179 (1): 1–12. doi:10.1006/taap.2001.9347. ISSN 0041-008X.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Marrs, T. "METHIOCARB JMPR 1998". Department of Health.
  8. ↑ Wheeler, L; Strother, A (August 1971). "In vitro metabolism of the N-methylcarbamates, Zectran and Mesurol, by liver, kidney and blood of dogs and rats.". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 178 (2): 371–82. PMID 5570461.
  9. ↑ Wheeler, L.; Strother, A. (1 November 1974). "Placental transfer, excretion, and disposition of [14C]Zectran and [14C]Mesurol in maternal and fetal rat tissues". Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 30 (2): 163–174. doi:10.1016/0041-008X(74)90088-X.
  10. ↑ Kimmerle, G (25 March 1960). "Product Dr Wedemeyer H 321 (E 37 344) Production No. 2410. Unpublished report from Bayer AG, Institute for Toxicology, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, 25 March 1960. Submitted to WHO by Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany".
  11. ↑ Procter, B (23 November 1988). "A 21-day dermal toxicity study of Mesurol technical in albino rabbits. Unpublished report No. 1084 from Bio-Research Laboratories Ltd, Senneville, Québec, Canada, 23 November 1988. Submitted to WHO by Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany".
  12. ↑ Krötlinger, F (15 August 1989). "H 321 (mercaptodimethur, active ingredient of Mesurol) chronic toxicological study on mice (feeding study over 2 year). Unpublished addendum No. 11908A to report No. 11908 from Bayer AG, Institute for Toxicology, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, 15 August 1989. Submitted to WHO by Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany".
  13. ↑ Krötlinger, F.; Janda, B (4 July 1983). "H 321 (mercaptodimethur, the active ingredient of Mesurol(R)) chronic toxicity study on mice (2-year feeding experiment). Unpublished report No. 11908 from Bayer AG, Institute for Toxicology, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, 4 July 1983. Submitted to WHO by Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany".
  14. ↑ Krötlinger, F (16 February 1990). "H 321 (mercaptodimethur, the active ingredient of Mesurol) chronic toxicity study on rats (2-year feeding experiment). Unpublished addendum No. 10039A to report No. 10039 from Bayer AG, Institute for Toxicology, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, 16 February 1990. Submitted to WHO by Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany".
  15. ↑ Krötlinger, F; Löser, E.; Vogel, O. "H 321 (mercaptodimethur, the active ingredient of Mesurol) chronic toxicity study on rats (2-year feeding experiment). Unpublished report No. 10039 from Bayer AG, Institute for Toxicology, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, 2 July 1981. Submitted to WHO by Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany".
  16. ↑ "Pesticide residues in food - 1999. Report of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide residues in Food and the Environment and the WHO Core Assessment Group. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper" (PDF) (153). 1999: 531–602.
  17. ↑ Herron, G.A.; Rophail J.; Gullick G.C. (2007). "Laboratory-Based, Insecticide Efficacy Studies on Field-Collected Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Implications for its Management in Australia". , Australian Journal of entomology 35 (2): 161–164.
  18. 1 2 Radwan, M.A.; Essawy A.E.; Abdelmequied N.E.; Hamed S.S.; Ahmed A.E. (2008). "Biochemical and histochemical studies on the digestive gland of Eobania vermiculata snails treated with carbamate pesticides". Pesticide biochemistry and physiologie 90 (3): 154–167. doi:10.1016/j.pestbp.2007.11.011.
  19. ↑ Hussein, H.I.; Fikry D.A; El-Shahawi I.; Hashem S.M. (1999). "Molluscicidal activity of Pergularia tomentosa (L.), methomyl and methiocarb, against land snails". International journal of pest management 45 (3): 211–213. doi:10.1080/096708799227815.
  20. ↑ Crabb, A.C. (11-1-1979). "A REPORT ON EFFICACY OF METHIOCARB AS AN AVIAN REPELLENT IN FIGS AND RESULTS OF INDUSTRY-WIDE BIRD DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS". Bird Control Seminars Proceedings. Paper 5. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ↑ Shumake, Stephen A.; ; Gaddis, Stanley E.; and Schafer, Edward W. Jr. (11-6-1976). "BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE OF QUELEA TO METHIOCARB (MCSUROL)". Bird Control Seminars Proceedings. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ↑ Mutze, G.J.; Hubbard, D.J. (2000). "Effects of molluscicide baits on field populations of house mice". , Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 80 (3): 205–211. doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(00)00147-x.
  23. 1 2 3 Thierauf, A.; Gnann, H.; Bohnert, M.; Vennemann, B.; Auwärter, V.; Weinmann, W. (15 January 2009). "Suicidal poisoning with mercaptodimethur–morphological findings and toxicological analysis". International Journal of Legal Medicine 123 (4): 327–331. doi:10.1007/s00414-008-0313-8.
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