FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT GENERAL INFORMATION Synonyms • Trade Name: Temik • Other names: Carbamyl; Carbanolafe: Union Carbide 21149; ENT-27093; OMS 771 Chemical Description: • Carbamate pesticide which is extremely toxic to both humans and animals; aldicarb sulfoxide and sulfone are the two major metabolites of aldicarb degradation Properties; • White crystalline solid with slightly sulfurous odor » Highly soluble in water and most organic solvents • very low vapor pressure Production and Us*: • Used as an insecticide, acancide, and nematocide for numerous crops » Used primarily on cotton and potatoes, generally drilled into the soil during planting or during various stages of plant growth ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE Occurrence: • Results of the 1990 National Pesticide Survey (NFS) indicate that Aldicarb and its metabolites were not present in any rural drinking water welts nor in any Community Water System (CWS) wells » New York, Florida, Wisconsin, Maine and several other states have restricted its use based upon its potential for ground water contamination Releases: « Enters surface water as a result of runoff from treated fields, and enters ground water by leaching of treated crop soils » May enter ground watef from direct entry into a well through accidental chemical spills or improper storage near a well Environmental Fate; • Moderately persistent in the environment: » aldicarb is not likely to volatilize significantly from surface waters, but is likely to an important removal process from soil • aldicarb degrades in soil and water under aerobic conditions to the sulfoxide and the sulfone » aldicarb and its metabolites will be nighty mobile in soil, with a high potential to migrate to groundwater • aldicarb is metabolized rapidly by plants after application to the sulfoxide and then, more slowly, to the sulfone • aldicarb and its metabolites are degraded by hydrolysis over months or years m most ground and surface waters, but may be more rapid in alkaline environments • Aldicarb has a low bioaccumulation potential HEALTH EFFECTS Humans: • Occupational exposures and laboratory studies indicate that aldicarb and its metabolites inhibit plasma, erythrocyte (RBC). and brain cholinesterase (ChE) activity • symptoms of ChE inhibition mciuae gastrointestinal disturbance, blurred vision, excessive salivation, dehydration disorientation, seizures, unconsciousness, irregular heartbeat, and sometimes death • rapid and complete recovery within several hours after exposure has ceased is common Experimental Animals: • Results of lethal dose studies indicate that aldicarb has the highest acute toxicity of any widely used insecticide « Short-term, high-dose studies indicate: • principle toxic effect of aldicarb and its metabolites is inhibition of ChE activity • absorbed readily and almost completely through the gut; also absorbed through sk:n • rapidly metabolized to aldicarb sulfoxide and then more slowly to aldicarb sulfone • Long-term, high-dose exposures resulted in symptoms indicative of ChE activity inhibition1 neither aldicarb nor its metabolites cause chronic effects • No conclusive evidence of mutagenicity » No adverse reproductive, teratogenic cr carcinogenic effects have oeen demonstrates ------- REGULATORY PROFILE Existing Standards: •Clean Air Act (CAA): Not regulated •Clean Water Act (CWA): No criteria established •Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Hazardous waste •Superfund (CERCLA): •Hazardous substance •SARA; Not regulated •Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticlde Act (FIFRA): Registered •Toxic Substances Control Act (RCA): Not regulated HEALTH INFORMATION Maximum Contaminant level Goals (MCIG): • Non-enforceable levels based solely on an evaluation of possible health risks and exposure, and taking into consideration a margin for public safety • Set at 0.001 mg/L (atdicarb, aldicarb sulfoxide, aidicarb suiforse) to protect against damage to the nervous system MCIG for Atdicarb » 0.001 mg/L MCLG for Aldicarb sulfoxide = 0,001 mg/L MCLG for Aldicarb sutfone = 0,001 mg/L (all values effective July 1992) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCI): « legally enforceable levels for contaminants in public drinking water supplies » Based on health risks associated with the contaminants,, analytical methods for their assay, and water treatment feasibility and practicality aspects » Exceedance of the MCI in drinking water may result in adverse effects which will depend upon the contaminant concentration in wafer, amount of water/contaminant ingested, length of exposure, and other biological parameters MCL for Aldicarb = 0,003 mg/L MCI for Aldicarb sulfoxide = 0.004 mg/L MCL for Aldicarb sulfone = 0.002 mg/L (all value* effective July 1992) EPA Health Advisories (HA): • Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable concentrations of contaminants in water for up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate the public health risk resulting from an accidental spill or an emergency contamination situation » Longer-term HAs: :-;v ce •: • persistent water contamination situations -c cover a period of up to 7 years • Lifetime HAs: Derived >n the same way as an MCLG Health Advisories: Short-term HA for a child = 0.002 mg/L Longer-term HA for a child = 0,002 mg/L Longer-term HA for an adult * 0.001 mg L Lifetime HA = 0.001 mg/L ANALYTICAL METHODS • Direct Aqueous Injection HPLC with Post- Column Derivatization EPA Method 531,1 WATER TREATMENT Permanent Treatment: • Best Available Technology (BAT): • Granular Activated Carbon SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION • If the dnnkinc voter standards are exceeded, install BAT or use an alternative drinking water supply such as bottled wafer ADDITIONAL HELP • State or county health officials can indicate a certified laboratory for testing » Experts in the state Department of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, or Agriculture may also be of help • The EPA has toll-free numbers for further information on drinking water quality, treatment technologies, for obtaining Health . Advisories, and for other regulatory information » EPA Hotlines are available Monday through Friday •Safe Drinking Wafer 800-426-4791 •National Pesticides: 800-858-7378 •Superfund/RCRA: 800-424-9346 • For information on the Clean Water Act. call (202) 260-7301 • For information on the Toxic Substances Control Act, call (202) 554-1404 • For Information on the Clean Air Act, call (919) 541-2777 ------- |