Inhibitor Report for: Phosmet

The organophosphate insecticide imidan includes a phthalimide group. Because of the structural relationship to the teratogenic compound thalidomide we have investigated its placental transfer and metabolic fate in rats. Its passage to embryonic tissues could be confirmed. After intraamniotic injection to the first amniotic cavity of the left uteri we could establish a distribution of imidan and 32P compounds throughout the uteri, the concentration depending upon the incubation time and the distances from the place of injection. The half-life of imidan, detected in the exterioized fetuses or in newborns, was 50--70 min. Imidoxon, i.e., the oxidized form of imidan, has a diminished half-life. This fact explicates the presence of imidoxon only in small concentrations after application of imidan.

Experiments conducted on pregnant Wistar rats show that chlorophos (Dipterex) has embroyotoxic and teratogenic effects after oral introduction in a 80 mg/kg dose during a critical period of embryogenesis. Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects are absent during the introduction of 8 mg/kg of the pesticide. The oral introduction of phthalophos (Imidan) in a 30 mg/kg dose once on day 9 of pregnancy and the introduction of a 1.5 mg/kg dose daily throughout the course of pregnancy caused increased postimplantation mortality of embryos. A dose of 30 mg/kg of phthalophos on day 9 or day 13 of pregnancy causes developmental abnormalities, including hyponathia and hydrocephaly. A 0.06 mg/kg phthalophos dose does not affect the course of embryogenesis in white rats. Thus the organophosphate pesticides Dipterex and Imidan exhibit embryotoxic and teratogenic effects at doses which significantly exceed the acutal amounts of the pesticide that can enter the human organism.

The structural development of fetuses was altered when Dipterex was administered by diet to pregnant rats from days 6 through 15 of gestation. Major external and skeletal alterations occurred after consumption of 432 or 519 mg/kg body weight per day, only minor skeletal changes occurred in the 375 mg/kg dose group and the incidence of alterations in the 145 mg/kg dose group was not significantly different from that in the pair-fed controls. The malformations seen at the two highest doses did not result directly from the associated decrease in food consumed. Dipterex was not shown to have teratogenic potential when given for the same time span, once daily by gavage, even at levels that produced maternal lethality. Imidan was not teratogenic when similarly given, either by diet at concentrations that resulted in a 45% reduction in food consumption, or by gavage at dose levels that resulted in some maternal lethality. Data collected from pair-fed control females revealed that limitation of food consumption to 13--15 g/rat per day from days 6 through 15 of gestation did not result in increased fetal mortality or stunting. However, fetal weight was reduced slightly, and the incidence of minor skeletal changes was approximately three to four times that among fetuses of control dams that were not pair-fed.

Chronic (2 day) exposure of human neuroblastoma cells to the organophosphate pesticide phosmet induced a marked concentration-dependent increase in the levels of PrP present on the cell surface as assessed by biotin labelling and immunoprecipitation. Levels of both phospholipase C (PIPLC)-releasable and non-releasable forms of PrP were increased on the plasma membrane. These increases appear to be due to post-transcriptional mechanisms, since PrP mRNA levels as assessed by Northern blotting were unaffected by phosmet treatment. These data raise the possibility that phosmet exposure could increase the susceptibility to the prion agent by altering the levels of accessible PrP.

Compulsory exposure of the UK bovine to exclusively high biannual doses of a 'systemic' pour-on formulation of an organo-phthalimido-phosphorus warblecide, phosmet, during the 1980s (combined with exposure to the lipid-bound residues of 'bioconcentrated' phosmet recycled back via the intensive feeding of meat and bone meal), initiated the 'new strain' modification of the CNS prion protein (PrP) causing the UK's bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic. A lipophilic solution of phosmet was poured along the bovine's spinal column, whence it penetrated and concentrated in phospholipids of the CNS membranes, covalently modifying endogenous phosphorylation sites on phosphatidylinositols (PIs) etc., forming a 'toxic membrane bank' of abnormally modified lipids that 'infect' any membrane proteins (such as PrP) that are programmed to conjugate onto them for anchorage to the membrane. Thus, phosmet invokes a primary covalent modification on PrP's PI anchor which, in turn, invokes an overall diverse disturbance upon CNS phosphoinositide second messenger feed back cycle, calcium homeostasis and essential free radicals; thus initiating a self-perpetuating cascade of abnormally phosphorylated PI-PrP that invokes a secondary electrostatic and allosteric disturbance on the main body of PrP impairing tertiary folding. Chaperone stress proteins conjugate onto misfolded PrP blocking its sites of proteolytic cleavage. Fresh epidemiological evidence is presented and experimental evidence referenced that adds support to a multifactorial hypothesis which proposes that BSE is a hitherto unrecognized and previously unmanifested class of subtle chronic phosmet-induced delayed neuro-excitotoxicity in the susceptible bovine.

Approximately 200 citrus samples from markets of the Valencian Community (Spain) were analyzed to establish their residue levels in 12 organophosphorus pesticide residues during the 1994-1995 campaign. The organophosphorus pesticides carbophenothion, chlorpyriphos, chlorfenvinphos, diazinon, ethion, fenitrothion, malathion, methidation, methylparathion, phosmet, quinalphos, and tetradifon were simultaneously extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring mode. A total of 32.25% contained pesticide residues and 6.9% exceeded the European Union Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). The pesticides found in the samples with residues above MRLs were carbophenothion, ethion, methidathion, and methyl parathion. Lower level residues of these and the other pesticides studied (except diazinon) were frequently found. The estimated daily intake of the 12 organophosphorus pesticide residues during the studied period was 4.87 x 10(-4) mg/kg body weight/day. This value is lower than the provisional tolerances dairy intakes proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization.

A multiresidue extraction method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) is optimized for the extraction and gas chromatographic screening of eighteen insecticides (aldrin, carbophenothion, captafol, chlorpyriphos, chlorfenvinphos, diazinon, dicofol, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, ethion, fenitrothion, folpet, methidathion, malathion, methyl-azinphos, methyl-parathion, phosmet, and tetradifon) from oranges. After optimization of different parameters, such as type of solid phase used and the amount of solid phase or eluent, recoveries ranged from 67 to 102% with relative standard deviations ranging from 2 to 10%. The limits of detection, calculated as 3 times the baseline noise ranged from 2 to 171 micrograms/kg. These limits of detection were about 10 times lower than the maximum residue levels established by the European Community. Compared with classical methods, the described procedure is simple, less labour intensive and does not require preparation and maintenance of equipment. Troublesome emulsions, such as those frequently observed in liquid-liquid partitioning did not occur.

An in vitro test to determine the acaricidal effect of organophosphorous insecticides (OP) is described. The effect of parathion, phoxim and phosmet against the pig mange mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis was evaluated. The test is based on the migration ability of mites on the surface of agar gels containing the acaricide. The mite activity is expressed as a migration index (MI) and compared with the OP concentration in the agar. Good dose-response data were obtained for all three OPs tested, although the instability of phosmet required special precautions concerning the analysis of the agar. The test was found to be accurate, sensitive, easy to carry out and applicable for routine determinations. However, the test requires that the actual concentrations of the OPs in the gel batches are determined. For the three OPs used analytical methods were developed. While the lower threshold for acaricidal effect in vitro was approximately 1-2 micrograms g-1 for all three OPs tested, a significant difference in the higher concentration range was seen between the dose-response curve for parathion and the curves for phoxim and phosmet. While the latter curves decreased only slightly at concentrations above 3-6 micrograms g-1 (corresponding to MI values around 5-10), the curve for parathion was linear down to an MI value of 1, corresponding to a parathion concentration of approximately 30 micrograms g-1. This discrepancy was ascribed to different rates of uptake through the cuticula due to differences in the lipophilicity of the OPs.

A 51 year old man developed progressive cranial and proximal muscle weakness, hyperreflexia and mental change. The disorder progressed over 9 days following the fifth weekly spraying with the organophosphate (OP) insecticide, phosmet, with limited symptoms of acute toxicity. Marked decremental responses of 50-80% on slow and fast rates of stimulation were improved to 15% by edrophonium or neostigmine. Intracellular recordings at the endplate region of intercostal muscle revealed small miniature endplate potentials (mepps), reduced mean acetylcholine sensitivity and normal membrane potentials. Electronmicroscopy revealed degeneration and regeneration of the endplates. This study demonstrates that OP poisoning due to phosmet can produce a subacute postsynaptic neuromuscular syndrome without marked symptoms of acute toxicity.

Phosmet, the active component of the organophosphorus insecticide Decemtione EK 20, was shown to be mutagenic in the standard Ames Salmonella/mammalian microsome assay in the absence and presence of metabolic activation. It appears to be a direct mutagen inducing base substitution mutations (TA100) as well as a weak frameshift mutagen (TA97). This compound was genotoxic in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 strain. It significantly increased reverse mutation, mitotic crossing-over and slightly, but not significantly, increased gene conversion at the highest concentration used.

To study the genotoxic activity of Decemtione (Imidan), this substance was subjected to a series of tests. After preliminary cytotoxicity testing, the capacity of Decemtione to damage human DNA was determined by alkaline elution of DNA and DNA unwinding. Both tests gave positive results, suggesting that Decemtione was able to induce single-strand breaks in DNA. This capacity was higher in the absence and lower in the presence of the S9 fraction. The potential mutagenicity of Decemtione was followed on the basis of its ability to induce resistance to 6-thioguanine in V79 hamster cells. Unlike the induction of single-strand breaks, Decemtione showed, in the absence of the metabolic activation system, a very weak mutagenic effect, which was, however, significantly higher in the presence of the S9 fraction. The ability of the substance to transform diploid cells under in vitro conditions was followed on the basis of morphological transformation of Syrian hamster embryo cells. The results showed that Decemtione, like positive carcinogenes, induced a significant elevation in morphologically transformed colonies of embryo cells. The results suggest a carcinogenic potential of this organophosphate insecticide.

Eight pesticides were tested in a bioassay based on the induction of preneoplastic lesions in the liver. Rats were given diethylnitrosamine intraperitoneally at 200 mg/kg bw and two weeks later were treated with pesticides for six weeks and then killed; all rats had a partial hepatectomy at week 3. Hepatocarcinogenic potential was assessed by comparing the number and area of glutathione s-transferase (placental form) -positive foci in the liver with those of controls given diethylnitrosamine alone. Positive results were seen with Chinomethionat, Phosmet and Propiconazole; the results obtained with Captan and Prochloraz were borderline; Benomyl, Daminozide and Folpet gave negative results. Our findings provide enough experimental evidence to indicate that great care should be exercised in the use of these compounds.

Pigs in a herd infected with Sarcoptes scabiei var suis were treated with 20% phosmet at a dose rate of 20 mg/kg body weight. In one of the groups the environment was also treated using 2% trichlorphon. Post-treatment clinical examination and parasitological evaluation of skin scrapings revealed complete recovery by the end of the second month after initial treatment with no evidence of reinfection for a period of five months.

Between 1978 and 1986, 305 samples of apples were monitored for the residues of a wide range of pesticides used in their production. Three (1%) contained residues above the maximum residue limits (MRL) permitted under the Canadian Food and Drug Act and regulations; two involved phosalone at 5.9 and 6.2 mg/kg respectively and one involved diphenylamine at 6.7 mg/kg when the MRL was 5.0 mg/kg for both compounds. Low residues of dicofol, endosulfan, phosalone, phosmet, captan, daminozide and diphenylamine were frequently found; however they were well below the MRLs. These residue levels were correlated with survey data on the areas of the apple crop treated with specific pesticides. Residues of carbaryl, diazinon, ethion, azinophosmethyl, parathion, and dithiocarbamate fungicides were found occasionally; all were well below the MRLs and correlated with the pattern of use. No residues of PCB were found to a limit of detection of 0.01 mg/kg.

DNOC, Ferbam and Imidan were tested in (C3H X C57BL/6) F1 mice to assess their potential testicular toxicity. Chemicals were administered i.p. and per os at different doses for 5 consecutive days. After 35 days the testicular was toxicity was evaluated by measuring the testicular weights, the sperm counts and the percentage of abnormal sperm. DNOC and Imidan failed to induce teratospermia in mice treated by both routes of administration. Conversely Ferbam induced a statistically significant increase in teratospermia only following per os administration to mice at a dose of 1000 mg/kg b.w./day. These data indicate that per os administration of Ferbam succeeded in producing active metabolites able to interfere with the differentiation process of spermatogenic cells.

A study of the effect of Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis on the performance of growing pigs under commercial conditions is described. Mange was endemic on the farm. Phosmet treatment controlled mange in growing pigs and resulted in a 12% increase in average daily liveweight gain over untreated mange-infected controls.

Pregnant mice were treated with Phosmet, an organophosphorus insecticide. The doses were 6.2 mg/kg body weight and 15.5 mg/kg body weight and 15.5 mg/kg body weight, together with four-per-cent ethoxose as suspension fluid. Applications were repeated between the first and 15th or between the first and eighth days of pregnancy. Some of the animals received only one single application, between the 4th and 13th days of pregnancy. Established effects, caused by the substance proper included sex shifting among living foetuses, retardation of development, and reduced ossification.

Coumaphos (O-(3-chloro-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate), famphur (O-[p-(dimethylsulfamoyl)phenyl] O,O-dimethyl phosphorothioate). crufomate (4-tert-butyl-2-chlorophenyl methyl methylphosphoramidate), ronnel (O,O-dimethyl O-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) phosphorothioate) and phosmet (O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate S-ester with N-(mercaptomethyl) phthalimide) were administered as systemic acaricides (either single or multiple oral doses or as feed additives) for control of the nortnern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), on caged White Leghorn hens. None of the treatments controlled the mites, but some hens were poisoned.

A screening method has been developed for determining organophosphorus pesticides at ng/L levels in drinking water. Sixteen organophosphorus pesticides, diazinon, diazinon-oxon, dimethoate, ronnel, beta-phosphamidon, methyl parathion, ethyl parathion, malathion, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, ruelene, methidathion, ethion, EPN, phosalone, and phosmet, were extracted by Amberlite XAD-2 resin from 100 and 200 L drinking water previously spiked with these pesticides. The pesticides were eluted from the XAD-2 resin with acetone-hexane (15+85). The concentrated extract was analyzed by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus selective detector and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. Recoveries at the 10 and 100 ng/L spiking levels were greater than 90%, except recoveries for dimethoate and phosphamidon were 37 and 42%, respectively. The analysis of 300 L Ottawa tap water showed no detectable amounts (less than 1 ng/L) of any of the 16 organophosphorus pesticides.

Thirty-four young range cattle heavily infested with the common scabies mite, Psoroptes ovis, were dipped in phosmet (O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate S-ester with N-(mercaptomethyl)phthalimide) in 15 trials. All concentrations from 0.15% to 0.25% that were applied once failed in at least one trial, but all concentrations from 0.075% to 0.20% were successful in eradicating mites when used twice at 7- to 10-day intervals. One single dip tried at 0.30% also was successful. Uninfested yearlings were dipped in 0.30% phosmet without apparent intoxication, but 2-year-old cattle treated in a spray-dip machine at 0.40% active ingredient became depressed and stiff gaited.

The organophosphate insecticide imidan includes a phthalimide group. Because of the structural relationship to the teratogenic compound thalidomide we have investigated its placental transfer and metabolic fate in rats. Its passage to embryonic tissues could be confirmed. After intraamniotic injection to the first amniotic cavity of the left uteri we could establish a distribution of imidan and 32P compounds throughout the uteri, the concentration depending upon the incubation time and the distances from the place of injection. The half-life of imidan, detected in the exterioized fetuses or in newborns, was 50--70 min. Imidoxon, i.e., the oxidized form of imidan, has a diminished half-life. This fact explicates the presence of imidoxon only in small concentrations after application of imidan.

Experiments conducted on pregnant Wistar rats show that chlorophos (Dipterex) has embroyotoxic and teratogenic effects after oral introduction in a 80 mg/kg dose during a critical period of embryogenesis. Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects are absent during the introduction of 8 mg/kg of the pesticide. The oral introduction of phthalophos (Imidan) in a 30 mg/kg dose once on day 9 of pregnancy and the introduction of a 1.5 mg/kg dose daily throughout the course of pregnancy caused increased postimplantation mortality of embryos. A dose of 30 mg/kg of phthalophos on day 9 or day 13 of pregnancy causes developmental abnormalities, including hyponathia and hydrocephaly. A 0.06 mg/kg phthalophos dose does not affect the course of embryogenesis in white rats. Thus the organophosphate pesticides Dipterex and Imidan exhibit embryotoxic and teratogenic effects at doses which significantly exceed the acutal amounts of the pesticide that can enter the human organism.

The structural development of fetuses was altered when Dipterex was administered by diet to pregnant rats from days 6 through 15 of gestation. Major external and skeletal alterations occurred after consumption of 432 or 519 mg/kg body weight per day, only minor skeletal changes occurred in the 375 mg/kg dose group and the incidence of alterations in the 145 mg/kg dose group was not significantly different from that in the pair-fed controls. The malformations seen at the two highest doses did not result directly from the associated decrease in food consumed. Dipterex was not shown to have teratogenic potential when given for the same time span, once daily by gavage, even at levels that produced maternal lethality. Imidan was not teratogenic when similarly given, either by diet at concentrations that resulted in a 45% reduction in food consumption, or by gavage at dose levels that resulted in some maternal lethality. Data collected from pair-fed control females revealed that limitation of food consumption to 13--15 g/rat per day from days 6 through 15 of gestation did not result in increased fetal mortality or stunting. However, fetal weight was reduced slightly, and the incidence of minor skeletal changes was approximately three to four times that among fetuses of control dams that were not pair-fed.