Guthion toxicity

The N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and butyrolactone used in this investigation were supplied by the General Film and Aniline Corp. and were of technical grade. Guthion toxicant was also technical grade. The solutions also contained epichlorohydrin which was of 98% purity and supplied by Dow Chemical Co. 

Rider JA, Moeller HC, Puletti EJ. 1967. Continuing studies on anticholinesterase effect of methyl parathion, initial studies with guthion, and determination of incipient toxicity level of dichlorvos in humans [Abstract]. Fed Proc 26 427. 

Rider JA, Swader Jl, Puletti EJ. 1971. Anticholinesterase toxicity studies with methyl parathion, guthion, and phosdrin in human subjects [Abstract]. Fed Proc 30 443. 

Short RD, Minor JL, Lee CC, et al Developmental toxicity of Guthion in rats and mice. Arch Toxicol Ah-.111- %6, 1980... 

New York State Department of Health, Chemical Fact Sheet Guthion. Bureau of Toxic Substances Management, Albany, NY, 5-24, 1984. 

Tn developing any new pesticide formulation many factors must be - considered physical form, method of application, pests to be controlled, compatibility with other toxicants, and many more that are too numerous to mention. For a formulation to be useful, however, it must meet certain minimum chemical and physical stability requirements. Guthion (0,0-dimethyl S-[4-oxo-l,2,3-benzotriazin-3 (4H) -ylmethyl] phosphorothioate), which has been used for a number of years to control many insects, was the toxicant used in this investigation. 

The chemistry of the decomposition of Guthion in the solid state has been studied rather thoroughly (4). On the other hand, decomposition in solution has received little attention, at least to the extent that mechanisms are well understood. The mode by which epichlorohydrin enters into this reaction is at present even less understood. The rationale for this study, of course, was to investigate useful and economic pesticidal formulations. Many of the questions that remain unanswered are of academic interest and will be pursued as time permits. An understanding of the decomposition mechanisms of a toxicant and those parameters that effect the decomposition is essential for the production of superior pesticidal formulations. 

Most of the organophosphorus insecticides are toxic to fish, but do not accumulate in animal tissues. There are, of course, a few exceptions like Guthion, which has been found in fish several weeks after being exposed in laboratory experiments to sub-lethal concentrations in water (25). 

Liver metabolism and toxicity of the phosphorothioate insecticides parathion, guthion, and malathion were studied in several mammalian, avian, and piscine species (Murphy, 1966). As shown in Table 9.3 and 9.4, some species, such as the rat, produced the oxon (e.g., malaoxon) more slowly and degraded it more rapidly, whereas in others, such as the sparrow, the opposite is true. 

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