w FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT GENERAL INFORMATION Synonym* • Trod© Names: Furadan 4F, Curaterr; 4F; Yaltox, 4 Fiowabie; Bnfur; Crisafuran, etc. Chemical Description: • A pesticide which is a member of the chemical family of carbamates Properties: • White crystalline solid at room temperature • Very low vapor pressure • Moderately soluble in water Production and Use: • Used as o pesticide to control beetles, nematodes, and rootworm in numerous crops: also used in home and garden {turf and ornamentals) setting • Used primarily on corn and alfalfa crops, generally applied directly to soil and plants by spray (aerial or ground) just after emergence ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE Occurrence: • Frequently found in ground water • Transported mainly by dissolution in water • Strong potential for contaminating both ground and surface water • EPA's 1990 National Pesticide Survey (NPS) did not detect carbofuran levels above the MCL in rural domestic wells or Community Water System (CWS) weils Releases: • Enters surface wafer as a result of runoff from treated fields, and enters ground water by leaching of treated crop soils • May enter ground water from direct entry into a well through accidental chemical spills or improper storage near a well Environmental fate: • Chemical hydrolysis and microbial decompo- sition are primary processes responsible for degradation in soil • Degradation rate in both soil and water dependent upon pH: rapid hydrolysis (in aqueous solution) in alkaline environments • Degrades to several toxic metabolites in soil: the major metabolite, 3-hydroxycaroofuran. is highly toxic • Metabolized rapidly to 3-hydrcxycarDofuran py plants after application • Significant volatilization from surface or ground waters is not likely « Volatilization is major removal process on soil surface • Highly mobile in soils (does not bind to soil or sediments); mobility decreases with increasing clay content « Expected to be stable in most surface and ground waters; stable in neutral to sightly acidic solutions • Hydrolysis in alkaline water is major removal mechanism in natural waters, followed by direct photolysis and photooxidation • Will adsorb to particulates suspended in air during aerial spray application, and is subject to dry and wet deposition • Low potential for bioaccumulation HEALTH EFFECTS Humans: • Acute toxic effects due to its rapid inhibition of cholinesterase, an enzyme essential for nerve function • Short-term oral exposures have shown such effects of acute oral toxicity as headache, lightheadedness, blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, hypersalivation, chest pains, convulsions, and sometimes coma « Effects of acute toxicity are usually reversible one® exposure ceases Experimental Animals: » Short-term, high-dose studies have shown that toxic effects are noticeable within minutes after ingestion » long-term exposure studies have shown that low doses of carbofuran appear to have little or no adverse health effects, and high aoses appear to cause decreases in body weight, and changes in cholinesterase levels in the blood, liver, and brain • long-term, high-dose- exposures causes aspermia (no sperm) and testicular ------- ~©generation m males, and alterations of the uterine structure in females • No adverse effects on survival of offspring or developmental effects observed • No evidence of mutagenicity or carcinogenicity REGULATORY PROFILE Existing Standards: •Clean Air Act (CAA): Not regulated •Clean Water Act (CWA): No criteria established •Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • (RCRA): Not regulated •Superfund (CERCLA): •Hazardous waste •SARA; Not regulated • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenficlde Act (FIFRA): Not registered • Toxic Substances Control Act (TICA); 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 info consideration a margin for public safety • Set at 0.04 mg/t to protect against damage to the nervous and reproductive systems MCIG for Carbofuran = 0.04 mg/L (effective July 1992) Maximum Contaminant levels (MCL): • Legally enforceable levels for contaminants in public drinking wafer supplies • Based on health risks associated with the contaminants, analytical methods for their assay, and wafer 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 water, amount of water/contaminant ingested, length of exposure, and other biological parameters MCI for Carbofuran = 0.04 mg/L (effective July 1992) EPA Health Advisories (HA): • Short-term HAs: Provide acceotacie 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: Q.cr:? *3' persistent wafer contamination s.tua'iC-s *o cover a period of up to ? years • Lifetime HAs: Derived :n rne same way as an MCIG Health Advisories: Short-term HA for a child = 0.05 mg/L Longer-term HA for a child = 0.05 mg L Longer-term HA for an adult = 0.18 mg, L Lifetime HA = 0.036 mg/L ANALYTICAL METHODS • Direct Aqueous Injection HPIC 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 drinking water standards are exceeded, install BAT or us© an alternative drinking water supply such as bottled water 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 Water 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) 541-277? 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