Problem
Carbamate insecticides as pollutants
Nature:
The first carbamic acid derivatives having insecticide properties were synthesized in 1947. The most commonly used carbamate insecticide in agriculture is carbaryl. It is a systemic poison which produces moderately severe acute effects when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It may cause local skin irritation. Being a cholinesterase inhibitor, it is much more active in insects than in mammals. This compound is only partly broken down in plants to non-toxic compounds, and metabolites with anticholinesterase properties can become translocated to a certain extent into plant tissues.
Incidence:
More than 1,000 carbamic acid derivatives are how known. More than 50 of them are used as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and nematocides. Total diet studies indicate a daily intake of 0.02 mg of carbaryl from meat, fish and poultry.
Broader Problems:
Insecticides as pollutantsChemical contaminants of food Values:
Pollution Subject(s):
Fundamental Sciences → Organic chemical compoundsIndustry → Chemical products
Societal Problems → Pollution
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
12.09.2019 – 17:00 CEST