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

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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

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