(Also known as: carbamic acid; UC 21149; carbamyl)
SUMMARY
Aldicarb is an insecticide used to control sucking and chewing pests. It is highly soluble and volatile. It is not persistent in soil but may be in in aqueous sustems. It is highly toxic to humans but has a low potential to bioaccumulate. It is a known endocrine disrupter, a neurotoxin and an inhibitor of acetyl cholinesterase. Aldicarb is highly toxic to birds and honeybees, and moderately toxic to most aquatic organisms and earthworms.
Data alerts
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate
Ecotoxicity
Human health
Environmental fate High alert: Drainflow: Mobile
Ecotoxicity High alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute contact ecotoxicity: High; Bees acute oral ecotoxicity: High
Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Endocrine distrupter; Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor; Neurotoxicant
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A soil applied, insecticide and nematicide used to control chewing, sucking and soil dwelling insects
Example pests controlled
Mites; Nematodes; Aphids
Example applications
Cucumbers; Water melons; Cotton; Peanut; Soybean; Potatoes
Efficacy & activity
-
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1970, USA
UK regulatory status
UK COPR regulatory status
Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires
Expired
UK LERAP status
None
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
EC Regulation 1107/2009 status
Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur
UK
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires
Expired
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)
Not applicable
Listed in EU database
Yes
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States
Consumer exposure to aldicarb and its toxic metabolites (the sulfoxide and sulfone) occurs mainly through food residues
Occupational
-
MRLs
European
EU MRL pesticide database 
Great Britain
GB MRL Register 
Notes
-
Drinking Water Standards
Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.01 mg l⁻¹
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
UK EA QS database 2018
-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
-
-
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
?Possibly, status not identified
A3 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 3 = Negative
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
 
General human health issues
Highly toxic IARC Group 3 carcinogen, USEPA - possible human carcinogen at high doses Endocrine issues - Inhibition of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone activity
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242