Table Of ContentRESIDUE REVIEWS
VOLUME 93
RESIDUE REVIEWS
Reviews of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology
Editor
FRANCIS A. GUNTHER
Assistant Editor
JANE DAVIES GUNTHER
Riverside, California
ADVISORY BOARD
F. BRO-RAsMUSSEN, Lyngby, Denmark
D. G. CROSBY, Davis, California' S. DORMAL-VAN DEN BRUEL, Bruxelles, Belgium
C. L. DUNN, Wilmington, Delaware' H. FREHsE, Leverkusen-Bayerwerk, Germany
K. FUKUNAGA, Tokyo, Japan' H. GEISSBUHLER, Basel, Switzerland
O. HUTZINGER, Bayreuth, Germany
H. F. LINSKENS, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
N. N. MELNIKov, Moscow, U.S.S.R. • R. MEsTREs, MontpeIlier, France
P. DE PIETRI-ToNELLI, Milano, Italy· I. ZIEGLER, Miinchen, Germany
VOLUME 93
Effect and Persistence of Selected Carbamate
Pesticides in Soil
By
B. S. Rajagopal, C. P. Brahmaprakash, B. R. Reddy,
U. D. Singh, and N. Sethunathan
SPRINGER-VERLAG
NEW YORK BERLIN HEIDELBERG TOKYO
1984
Coordinating Board of Editors
FRANCIS A. GUNTHER, Editor
Residue Reviews
Department of Entomology
University of California
Riverside, California 92521
HERBERT N. NIGG, Editor
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Agricultural Research and Education Center
University of Florida
700 Experimental Station Road
Lake Alfred, Florida 33850
ARTHUR BEVENUE, Editor
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
1515 Nuuanu Avenue
Queen Tower 104
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be translated or reproduced in
any form without written permission from Springer-Verlag.
© 1984 by Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1984
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 62-18595.
The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, etc. in this
publication, even if the former are not especially identified, is not to be taken
as a sign that such names, as understood by the Trade Marks and Merchandise
Marks Act, may accordingly be used freely by anyone.
New York: 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
Heidelberg: 6900 Heidelberg 1, Postfach 105 280, West Germany
ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-9764-2 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-5268-9
DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4612-5268-9
Foreword
Worldwide concern in scientific, industrial, and governmental com
munities over traces of toxic chemicals in foodstuffs and in both abiotic
and biotic environments has justified the present triumvirate of specialized
publications in this field: comprehensive reviews, rapidly published
progress reports, and archival documentations. These three publications
are integrated and scheduled to provide in international communication
the coherency essential for nonduplicative and current progress in a field
as dynamic and complex as environmental contamination and toxicology.
Until now there has been no journal or other publication series reserved
exclusively for the diversified literature on "toxic" chemicals in our foods,
our feeds, our geographical surroundings, our domestic animals, our wild
life, and ourselves. Around the world immense efforts and many talents
have been mobilized to technical and other evaluations of natures, locales,
magnitudes, fates, and toxicology of the persisting residues of these
chemicals loosed upon the world. Among the sequelae of this broad new
emphasis has been an inescapable need for an articulated set of authorita
tive publications where one could expect to find the latest important
world literature produced by this emerging area of science together with
documentation of pertinent ancillary legislation.
The research director and the legislative or administrative advisor do
not have the time even to scan the large number of technical publications
that might contain articles important to current responsibility; these
individuals need the background provided by detailed reviews plus an
assured awareness of newly developing information, all with minimum
time for literature searching. Similarly, the scientist assigned or attracted
to a new problem has the requirements of gleaning all literature pertinent
to his task, publishing quickly new developments or important new
experimental details to inform others of findings that might alter their
own efforts, and eventually publishing all his supporting data and con
clusions for archival purposes.
The end result of this concern over these chores and responsibilities
and with uniform, encompassing, and timely publication outlets in the
field of environmental contamination and toxicology is the Springer-Verlag
(Heidelberg and New York) triumvirate:
Residue Reviews (vol. 1 in 1962) for basically detailed review articles
concerned with any aspects of residues of pesticides and other
chemical contaminants in the total environment, including toxico
logical considerations and consequences.
vi Foreword
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and TOxicology (vol. 1 in
1966) for rapid publication of short reports of significant advances
and discoveries in the fields of air, soil, water, and food contami
nation and pollution as well as methodology and other disciplines
concerned with the introduction, presence, and effects of toxicants
in the total environment.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (vol. 1 in
1973) for important complete articles emphasizing and describing
original experimental or theoretical research work pertaining to the
scientific aspects of chemical contaminants in the environment.
Manuscripts for Residue Reviews and the Archives are in identical
formats and are subject to review, by workers in the field, for adequacy
and value; manuscripts for the Bulletin are also reviewed but are pub
lished by photo-offset to provide the latest results without delay. The
individual editors of these three publications comprise the Joint Co
ordinating Board of Editors with referral within the Board of manuscripts
submitted to one publication but deemed by major emphasis or length
more suitable for one of the others.
Coordinating Board of Editors
Preface
That residues of pesticide and other contaminants in the total environ
ment are of concern to everyone everywhere is attested by the reception
accorded previous volumes of "Residue Reviews" and by the gratifying
enthusiasm, sincerity, and efforts shown by all the individuals from whom
manuscripts have been solicited. Despite much propaganda to the con
trary, there can never be any serious question that pest-control chemicals
and food-additive chemicals are essential to adequate food production,
manufacture, marketing, and storage, yet without continuing surveillance
and intelligent control some of those that persist in our foodstuffs could
at times conceivably endanger the public health. Ensuring safety-in-use
of these many chemicals is a dynamic challenge, for established ones are
continually being displaced by newly developed ones more acceptable to
food technologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, and changing pest
control requirements in progressive food-producing economies.
These matters are of genuine concern to increasing numbers of gov
ernmental agencies and legislative bodies around the world, for some of
these chemicals have resulted in a few mishaps from improper use. Ade
quate safety-in-use evaluations of any of these chemicals persisting into
our foodstuffs are not simple matters, and they incorporate the considered
judgments of many individuals highly trained in a variety of complex
biological, chemical, food technological, medical, pharmacological, and
toxicological disciplines.
It is hoped that "Residue Reviews" will continue to serve as an
integrating factor both in focusing attention upon those many residue
matters requiring further attention and in collating for variously trained
readers present knowledge in specinc important areas of residue and
related endeavors involved with other chemical contaminants in the total
environment. The contents of this and previous volumes of "Residue
Reviews" illustrate these objectives. Since manuscripts are published in
the order in which they are received in nnal form, it may seem that some
important aspects of residue analytical chemistry, biochemistry, human
and animal medicine, legislation, pharmacology, physiology, regulation,
and toxicology are being neglected; to the contrary, these apparent omis
sions are recognized, and some pertinent manuscripts are in preparation.
However, the neld is so large and the interests in it are so varied that the
editors and the Advisory Board earnestly solicit suggestions of topics and
authors to help make this international book-series even more useful and
informative.
viii Preface
"Residue Reviews" attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of
timely advances, philosophy, and significant areas of accomplished or
needed endeavor in the total field of residues of these and other foreign
chemicals in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological im
plications. These reviews are either general or specific, but properly they
may lie in the domains of analytical chemistry and its methodology, bio
chemistry, human and animal medicine, legislation, pharmacology, physi
ology, regulation, and toxicology; certain affairs in the realm of food
technology concerned specifically with pesticide and other food-additive
problems are also appropriate subject matter. The justification for the
preparation of any review for this book-series is that it deals with some
aspect of the many real problems arising from the presence of any "foreign"
chemicals in our surroundings. Thus, manuscripts may encompass those
matters, in any country, which are involved in allowing pesticide and
other plant-protecting chemicals to be used safely in producing, storing,
and shipping crops. Added plant or animal pest-control chemicals or their
metabolites that may persist into meat and other edible animal products
(milk and milk products, eggs, etc.) are also residues and are within this
scope. The so-called food additives (substances deliberately added to
foods for flavor, odor, appearance, etc., as well as those inadvertently
added during manufacture, packaging, distribution, storage, etc.) are also
considered suitable review material. In addition, contaminant chemicals
in any manner to air, water, soil or plant or animal life are within this
purview and these objectives.
Manuscripts are normally contributed by invitation but suggested
topics are welcome. Preliminary communication with the editors is neces
sary before volunteered reviews are submitted in manuscript form.
Department of Entomology F.A.G.
University of California J.D.G.
Riverside, California
May 30,1984
Effect and persistence of selected carbamate pesticides in soil
By
B. S. RAJAGOPAL *, G. P. BRAHMAPRAKASH*, B. R. REDDY *,
U. D. SINGH*, and N. SETHUNATHAN*
Contents
I. Introduction........................................................ 2
II. Fungicides......................................................... 2
a) Benzimidazole carbamates ......................................... 6
1. Benomyl and carbendazim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
b) Dithiocarbamates ................................................. 19
1. Monoalkyldithiocarbamates ...................................... 19
2. Dialkyldithiocarbamates ........................................ 31
III. Herbicides ......................................................... 39
a) Methy1carbamates ................................................ 39
1. Asulum ...................................................... 39
b) Pheny1carbamates ............................................... .41
1. Barban ....................................................... 41
2. Chlorpropham ................................................ .43
3. Phenmedipham ................................................ 50
4. Propham ..................................................... 51
5. Swep ........................................................ 53
6. Fate and metabolism of anilines in soils ............................ 55
c) Thio1carbamates .................................................. 62
1. Benthiocarb .................................................. 62
2. EPfC ........................................................ 68
3. Molinate ..................................................... 73
IV. Insecticides ........................................................ 75
a) Oxime carbamates ................................................ 76
1. Aldicarb ..................................................... 76
2. Oxamyl ...................................................... 85
b) N-methy1carbamates .............................................. 86
1. Arprocarb .................................................... 86
*Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack 753006,
India. Corresponding author: N. Sethunathan.
© 1984 by Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
Residue Reviews, I0lume 93.
2 B. S. Rajagopal et al.
2. Carbaryl ....................................................... 87
3. Carbofuran ..................................................... 102
V. Conclusions ....................................................... 117
Summary ............................................................. 153
References ............................................................ 154
I. Introduction
Biomagnification through food chain and other side-effects from the intensive
use of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides) have necessitated their
replacement by carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides in most developed
countries. In tropical developing countries organochlorine pesticides are still
widely used for reasons of low cost, ready availability, and indigenous capability
to produce these pesticides. However, because of the increasing concern over
their effect on the environment, efforts are made even in developing countries to
use carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides as a replacement for organo
chlorines. Moreover, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides are increas
ingly recommended for the control of specific pests not controlled by organo
chlorines. For instance, the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens stlH.) is a
major pest of rice in the tropics and sub-tropics and carbamates such as carbaryl,
carbofuran, and 2-isopropylphenyl N-methylcarbamate (MIPC) have been
increasingly used as the most effective insecticides against this pest. Admittedly,
until the mid-1960s no carbamate pesticides were used in India and possibly other
developing countries. Based on recent estimates, carbaryl is next to BHe in terms
of the amount of pesticides produced or used in Indian agriculture. There is con
siderable literature on the effect and persistence of chlorinated hydrocarbon and
organophorphorus pesticides in the soil, but our knowledge on the behavior of
carbamate pesticides in the soil environment is scanty. This review summarizes
the recent developments on the effect and persistence of selected carbamate
pesticides (Table I) in the soil environment. The selection of these pesticides
which include fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides was based on their exten
sive use, significant accumulation ofliterature in recent years, and/or their possi
ble importance as models in future studies.
II. Fungicides
In terms of the amount of pesticides globally used, fungicides probably rank
next to insecticides and herbicides. Residual problems from most organic
fungicides may not be serious, because of their low mammalian toxicity, but
fungicides are applied generally at levels higher than the usually recommended
doses for insecticides and herbicides. Moreover, fungicides, designed to control
1 Common, trade, and chemical names of the pesticides mentioned in the text ha~e
been listed in Table IV.
2 B. S. Rajagopal et al.
2. Carbaryl ....................................................... 87
3. Carbofuran ..................................................... 102
V. Conclusions ....................................................... 117
Summary ............................................................. 153
References ............................................................ 154
I. Introduction
Biomagnification through food chain and other side-effects from the intensive
use of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides) have necessitated their
replacement by carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides in most developed
countries. In tropical developing countries organochlorine pesticides are still
widely used for reasons of low cost, ready availability, and indigenous capability
to produce these pesticides. However, because of the increasing concern over
their effect on the environment, efforts are made even in developing countries to
use carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides as a replacement for organo
chlorines. Moreover, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides are increas
ingly recommended for the control of specific pests not controlled by organo
chlorines. For instance, the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens stlH.) is a
major pest of rice in the tropics and sub-tropics and carbamates such as carbaryl,
carbofuran, and 2-isopropylphenyl N-methylcarbamate (MIPC) have been
increasingly used as the most effective insecticides against this pest. Admittedly,
until the mid-1960s no carbamate pesticides were used in India and possibly other
developing countries. Based on recent estimates, carbaryl is next to BHe in terms
of the amount of pesticides produced or used in Indian agriculture. There is con
siderable literature on the effect and persistence of chlorinated hydrocarbon and
organophorphorus pesticides in the soil, but our knowledge on the behavior of
carbamate pesticides in the soil environment is scanty. This review summarizes
the recent developments on the effect and persistence of selected carbamate
pesticides (Table I) in the soil environment. The selection of these pesticides
which include fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides was based on their exten
sive use, significant accumulation ofliterature in recent years, and/or their possi
ble importance as models in future studies.
II. Fungicides
In terms of the amount of pesticides globally used, fungicides probably rank
next to insecticides and herbicides. Residual problems from most organic
fungicides may not be serious, because of their low mammalian toxicity, but
fungicides are applied generally at levels higher than the usually recommended
doses for insecticides and herbicides. Moreover, fungicides, designed to control
1 Common, trade, and chemical names of the pesticides mentioned in the text ha~e
been listed in Table IV.
F. A. Gunther et al. (eds.), Residue Reviews
© Springer-Verlag New York Inc. 1984
