| Metam |
![]() Last updated: 02/02/2026 |
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(Also known as: methyldithiocarbamic acid; metham; carbam) |
| SUMMARY |
| Hazard alerts |
The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) 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. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.
| PHT: Environmental fate | PHT: Ecotoxicity | PHT: Human health | Highly Hazardous Pesticide |
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Warning:Significant data are missing |
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A multi-action crop protection agent used as a pre-planting soil sterilant | |
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Weed and disease suppression including control of annual bluegrass, chickweed, ragweed, nutgrass, morning glory, Sclerotina, club root and Rhizoctonia | |
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Vegetables; Fruit; Ornamentals; Fibre crops; Cover crops | |
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| GB regulatory status |
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Not approved | ||
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Withdrawn | ||
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No UK approval for use as a crop protection agent |
| EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Approved | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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15/11/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes - low ADI / ARfD / AOEL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Additional information |
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| Chemical structure |
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None | |
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C₂H₅NS₂ | |
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CNC(=S)S | |
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HYVVJDQGXFXBRZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |
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InChI=1S/C2H5NS2/c1-3-2(4)5/h1H3,(H2,3,4,5) | |
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Yes |
| General status |
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Fungicide; Insecticide; Nematicide; Soil sterilent | ||||||||||||||
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Carbamate fungicide; Dithiocarbamate fungicide; Carbamate herbicide; Dithiocarbamate herbicide; Carbamate nematicide; Dithiocarbamate nematicide | ||||||||||||||
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Synthetic | ||||||||||||||
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Soil fumigant, binds to oxygen carrying molecules and prevents tissues from using oxygen. Multi-site activity. | ||||||||||||||
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144-54-7 | ||||||||||||||
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No data found | ||||||||||||||
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20 | ||||||||||||||
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3001858 | ||||||||||||||
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No data found | ||||||||||||||
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107.20 | ||||||||||||||
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methylcarbamodithioic acid | ||||||||||||||
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methyldithiocarbamic acid | ||||||||||||||
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N-methylcarbamodithioic acid | ||||||||||||||
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Yes [ R02 Rule 2: Pesticide active ingredients that meet the criteria of carcinogenicity Categories 1A and 1B of the Globally Harmonized System on Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (those with a CLP classification of H350) ; R03 Rule 3: Pesticide active ingredients that meet the criteria of mutagenicity Categories 1A and 1B of the Globally Harmonized System on Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (those with a CLP classification of H340) ; R04 Rule 4: Pesticide active ingredients that meet the criteria of reproductive toxicity Categories 1A and 1B of the Globally Harmonized System on Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (those with a CLP classification of H360) ] |
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PAN Bad Actor Chemical; Marine pollutant | ||||||||||||||
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Not known | ||||||||||||||
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Not known | ||||||||||||||
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8F | ||||||||||||||
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Not known | ||||||||||||||
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| Commercial |
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1951, first reported; 2025, withdrawn UK | |||
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Usually supplied formulated for use as a fumigant | |||
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Metam is produced through the well-established reaction of methylamine with carbon disulfide, followed by controlled oxidation to form the dithiocarbamate intermediate. | |||
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| Degradation |
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Not readily biodegradable | ||||||||||
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0.01 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
Non-persistent | |||||||
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0.01 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
Non-persistent | ||||||||
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0.02 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
Non-persistent | ||||||||
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EU Dossier lab studies DT₅₀ range 4-22 minutes, DT₉₀ range 13-72 minutes; Other sources: up to 7 days | ||||||||||
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1.0 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 4 = Verified data |
Fast | ||||||||
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. | ||||||||||
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| Soil adsorption and mobility |
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- | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Mobile | |||||||
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EU dossier data | ||||||||||
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| Fate indices |
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-5.40 | Calculated | Low leachability | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.19 X 10-05 | Calculated | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Low | Calculated | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mobile | Calculated | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Known soil metabolites |
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Major fraction | 0.829 | - |
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Relevant | 0.004 | 24 |
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| methyl isothiocyanate (Ref: SN-32866) Note: Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
MITC | Surface water; Sediment | - |
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| Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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896 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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0.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 90-day5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
High | ||||||||
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1.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 2-yr5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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> 36.2 | A3 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Apis mellifera as sodium variant3 = Unverified data of known source |
Moderate | |||||||
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| Aquatic ecotoxicology |
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1.08 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Raphidocelis subcapitata as sodium variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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0.322 | A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Raphidocelis subcapitata as sodium variant4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
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| Regulatory Threshold Levels (RTLs) used to calculate Total Applied Toxicity (TAT) |
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0.1 | Worst case of acute and chronic mammals | |||
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No data | No data for acute and chronic birds | |||
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No data | No data for acute and chronic earthworms | |||
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No data | No data for non-target plants vegetative vigour and seedling emergence | |||
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0.724 | Worst case of contact and oral honeybees | |||
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No data | No data for parasitic wasps and predatory mites | |||
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No data | No data for temperate acute and chronic fish | |||
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No data | No data for temperate acute and chronic aquatic invertebrates | |||
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0.0322 | Worst case of free-floating plants, rooted plants, acute and chronic algae |
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| General |
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High (class III) | - | - | ||||||||
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896 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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0.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 90-day5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
High | ||||||||
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1.5 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 2-yr5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
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> 2000 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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2.54 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat 4 hr (whole body)5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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0.001 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Dog SF=1005 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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0.1 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rat SF=1005 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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0.1 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Rabbit SF=1005 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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0.001 | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Dog SF=1005 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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GB MRL levels for some commodities subject to change in late 2021 | ||||||||||
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Mainly eliminated via urine (85%) with remainder via expelled air | A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
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| Health issues |
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Highly toxic US EPA - probable human carcinogen, CLP data - suspected carcinogen Possible liver toxicant |
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| Handling issues |
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Corrosive May liberate toxic gas when in contact with acids Not explosive or oxidising IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1 |
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Health: H372, H371, H361d, H351, H341, H332, H302, H314, H317 Environment: H400, H410 Handling: H290 |
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II (Moderately hazardous) | |||
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UN2757 | |||
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Spilled product is a hazardous waste and disposal must be at an approved manner Packaging Group III (minor danger) |
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| Record last updated: | 02/02/2026 |
| Contact: | aeru@herts.ac.uk |
| Please cite as: | 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 |








