Biodegradability, carbamate pesticides

Harris, C.I., Chapman, R.A., Harris, C., and Tu, C.M. Biodegradation of pesticides in soil rapid induction of carbamate... 

Pesticidal organic derivatives of carbamic acid, for which the formula is shown in Figure 15.8, are known collectively as carbamates. Some carbamate insecticides such as carbaryl, carbofuran, and pirimicarb have been in use for many years others, including Dunet, are relatively recent. Carbamate pesticides have been widely used because some are more biodegradable than the formerly popular organochlorine insecticides and have lower dermal toxicides than most common organophosphate pesticides. 

Harris, C.I., R.A. Chapman, C. Harris, and CM. Tu. Biodegradation of Pesticides in Soil Rapid Induction of Carbamate Degrading Factors After Caibofuian Treatment, J. 

From the identification of the degradation products by GC-MS, the degradation of die six carbamate pesticides demonstrated attack at the carbamate branch by hydroxyl radicals. In addition, for promecarb and carbaryl, hydroxyl radicals can also initiate attack at the alkyl site. These degradadve steps result in substituted phenols, which may or may not be the final products from AFT treatment. It can be demonstrated by measuring the BODs/COD of a solution of all six carbamates that the biodegradability of die solution is significandy... 

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