To compare the toxicity of seven N-methyl carbamates, time course profiles for brain and red blood cell (RBC) cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition were established for each. Adult, male, Long Evans rats (n=4-5 dose group) were dosed orally with either carbaryl (30 mg/kg in corn oil); carbofuran (0.5 mg/kg in corn oil); formetanate HCl (10 mg/kg in water); methomyl (3 mg/kg in water); methiocarb (25 mg/kg in corn oil); oxamyl (1 mg/kg in water); or propoxur (20 mg/kg in corn oil). This level of dosing produced at least 40% brain ChE inhibition. Brain and blood were taken from 0.5 to 24 h after dosing for analysis of ChE activity using two different methods: (1) a radiometric method which limits the amount of reactivation of ChE activity, and (2) a spectrophotometric method (Ellman method using traditional, unmodified conditions) which may encourage reactivation. The time of peak ChE inhibition was similar for all seven N-methyl carbamate pesticides: 0.5-1.0 h after dosing. By 24 h, brain and RBC ChE activity in all animals returned to normal. The spectrophotometric method underestimated ChE inhibition. Moreover, there was a strong, direct correlation between brain and RBC ChE activity (radiometric assay) for all seven compounds combined (r(2)=0.73, slope 1.1), while the spectrophotometric analysis of the same samples showed a poor correlation (r(2)=0.09). For formetanate, propoxur, methomyl, and methiocarb, brain and RBC ChE inhibitions were not different over time, but for carbaryl, carbofuran and oxamyl, the RBC ChE was slightly more inhibited than brain ChE. These data indicate (1) the radiometric method is superior for analyses of ChE activity in tissues from carbamate-treated animals (2) that animals treated with these N-methyl carbamate pesticides are affected rapidly, and recover rapidly, and (3) generally, assessment of RBC ChE is an accurate predictor of brain ChE inhibition for these seven pesticides.
Carbofuran is a carbamate that functions as a cholinesterase inhibitor. Accidental or intentional ingestion can produce a life-threatening syndrome that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. We describe a case of intentional carbofuran ingestion that resulted in coma, respiratory failure from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and cortical blindness.
Title: Accidental oral poisoning with carbamate in a 26-year-old patient Lata S, Janiszewski J, Madej T Ref: Przegl Lek, 54:753, 1997 : PubMed
Acute, accidental, oral poisoning with carbofuran in a chronic alcoholic was presented. In clinical picture muscarinic and nicotinic symptoms dominated. Toxicological examination revealed non acetylcholinesterase activity. A role of an interview and physical symptoms in diagnosing the poisoning with cholinesterase inhibitors, a specific treatment conduct and its side effects were discussed. So far six cases of poisoning with cholinesterase inhibitors have been treated at II Department of Internal Diseases and Acute Poisoning in Tarnw. The case presented below was characteristic for a considerable intensification of side effects during the treatment conduct. It was the reason for presenting this case.
Title: In utero and lactational exposure of carbofuran to rats: effect on testes and sperm Pant N, Shankar R, Srivastava SP Ref: Hum Exp Toxicol, 16:267, 1997 : PubMed
Male offspring of adult females treated with 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg during either the whole of pregnancy or the whole of the lactation period did not induce generalised toxic effects. A significant alteration in enzymatic activities i.e. SDH (decreased), LDH and Y-GT (increased) were observed in testes only at 0.4 mg/kg. A decrease in sperm motility, sperm count along with increase in percent abnormal sperm was observed at 0.4 mg/kg dose level. Histopathological examination revealed loss of spermato-genesis, degenerative changes in Sertoli cells which are well supported with biochemical studies indicating that carbofuran interferes with the maturation process of testis. No such effects were observed at 0.2 mg/kg. The testicular and spermatotoxic effects observed in rats given in utero or lactational exposure may be due to transfer of carbofuran or its metabolites through placenta or mothers milk.
Title: Determination of organophosphorous and carbamate insecticides by flow injection analysis Kumaran S, Tran-Minh C Ref: Analytical Biochemistry, 200:187, 1992 : PubMed
A flow injection system, incorporating an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) single bead string reactor (SBSR), for the determination of some organophosphorous (azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, bromophos-methyl, dichlorovos, fenitrothion, malathion, paraoxon, parathion-ethyl and parathion-methyl) and carbamate insecticides (carbofuran and carbaryl) is presented. The detector is a simple pH electrode with a wall-jet entry. Variations in enzyme activity due to inhibition are measured from pH changes when the substrate (acetylcholine) is injected before and after the passage of the solution containing the insecticide. The percentage inhibition of enzyme activity is correlated to the insecticide concentration. Several parameters influencing the performance of the system are studied and discussed. The detection limits of the insecticides ranged from 0.5 to 275 ppb. The determination of these compounds was conducted in Hepes buffer and a synthetic sea water preparation. The enzyme reactor can be regenerated after inhibition with a dilute solution of 2-PAM and be reused for analysis. The immobilized enzyme did not lose any activity up to 12 weeks when stored at 4 degrees C.
Title: Relative inhibition of rat plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterases by pesticide combinations Iyaniwura TT Ref: Vet Hum Toxicol, 33:166, 1991 : PubMed
A selected combination of carbamate pesticides (carbofuran, oxamyl and propoxur were examined for cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition. The enzyme source was rat plasma and erythrocytes. Enzyme activity was determined colorimetrically using the Ellman technique adapted for erythrocyte ChE activity. Enzyme inhibition was obtained for both plasma and erythrocyte ChE, but inhibition by the pesticides was greater in the plasma. All 3 pesticides interacted additively in vitro.
Title: Occupational exposure control by simultaneous determination of N- methylcarbamates and organophosphorus pesticide residues in human urine Drevenkar V, Stengl B, Tkalcevic B, Vasilic Z Ref: International Journal of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, 14:215, 1983 : PubMed
On-column transesterification with methanol was applied for the gas chromatographic determination of N-methylcarbamates extracted from human urine. Transesterification conversion efficiencies of N-methylcarbamates dioxacarb, carbofuran and OMS-22, calculated from the amount of the on-column produced O-methyl-N-methylcarbamate (DMC), were 96, 77 and 76% with detection limits of 8, 10 and 10 ng, respectively. In the investigated concentration range of 0.2-3 micrograms/ml of urine the extraction efficiencies with methylene chloride were independent of the initial concentration of N-methylcarbamate added to urine samples of non-exposed persons. The recoveries and rel. S.D. were 74 +/- 11, 64 +/- 8 and 79 +/- 12% for dioxacarb, carbofuran and OMS-22, respectively. The procedure was applied for the gas chromatographic determination of carbofuran and its metabolites containing the N-methylcarbamic group extracted from urine samples of occupationally exposed persons in a pesticide formulating plant. The level of extracted N-methylcarbamates and the concentration of degradation products of organophosphorus pesticides detected in the urine of the same persons were correlated with the blood and plasma cholinesterase activities. Although the determination of DMC includes only a smaller part of the excreted N-methylcarbamate, a simultaneous determination of both carbamates and organophosphorus residues made it possible to distinguish the cause of depression in cholinesterase activity, indicating early and specifically the exposure to a particular group of agents hazardous to health.
Title: Observations on the influence of water and soil pH on the persistence of insecticides Chapman RA, Cole CM Ref: J Environ Sci Health [B], 17:487, 1982 : PubMed
The pH-disappearance rate profiles were determined at ca. 25 degrees C for 24 insecticides at 4 or 5 pH values over the range 4.5 to 8.0 in sterile phosphate buffers prepared in water-ethanol (99:1 v/v). Half-lives measured at pH 8 were generally smaller than at lower pH values. Changes in half lives between pH 8.0 and 4.5 were largest (greater than 1000x) for the aryl carbamates, carbofuran and carbaryl, the oxime carbamate, oxamyl, and the organophosphorus insecticide, trichlorfon. In contrast, half lives of phorate, terbufos, heptachlor, fensulfothion and aldicarb were affected only slightly by pH changes. Under the experimental conditions described half lives at pH8 varied from 1-2 days for trichlorfon and oxamyl to greater than 1 year for fensulfothion and cypermethrin. Insecticide persistence on alumina (acid, neutral and basic), mineral soils amended with aluminum sulfate or calcium hydroxide to different pH values and four natural soils of different pH was examined. No correlation was observed between the measured pH of these solids and the rate of disappearance of selected insecticides applied to them. These observations demonstrate the difficulty of extrapolating the pH dependent disappearance behaviour observed in homogeneous solution to partially solid heterogeneous systems such as soil.
