Carbendazim (Ref: BAS 346F)

Carbendazim (Ref: BAS 346F)	Last updated: 26/05/2025
(Also known as: carbendazol; carbendazim (MBC); carbendazime; MBC)

SUMMARY

Carbendazim is a systemic fungicide. It has a low aqueous solubility, is volatile and moderately mobile. It is moderately persistent in soil and can be very persistent in water systems under certain conditions. Carbendazim has a low mammalian toxicity and is not expected to bioaccumulate. It is, however, reported as a reproduction/developmental toxicant. It is moderately toxic to honeybees and most aquatic organisms. It is highly toxic to earthworms but non-toxic to birds.

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 Moderate alert: GUS: Transition state; Drainflow: Moderately mobile	Ecotoxicity High alert: Fish chronic ecotoxicity: High; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: High; Earthworms acute ecotoxicity: High	Human health High alert: Genotoxic; Endocrine disrupter; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A fungicide used to control a a range of diseases including Septoria, Fusarium and Sclerotina. Can also be a pesticide transformation product

Example pests controlled

Husk spot; Chocolate spot; Grey mold; Green mould; Crown rot

Example applications

Beans; Macademia nuts; Lentils; Chickpeas; Strawberries; Sugarcane; Cereals; Ornamentals

Efficacy & activity

Wheat/Fungal infections=Low

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1973, first reported; 1974, first introduced

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Expired

GB LERAP status

No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Germany

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

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece

ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg

LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Also used in

Australia; USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₉H₉N₃O₂

Canonical SMILES

COC(=O)NC1=NC2=CC=CC=C2N1

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

TWFZGCMQGLPBSX-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C9H9N3O2/c1-14-9(13)12-8-10-6-4-2-3-5-7(6)11-8/h2-5H,1H3,(H2,10,11,12,13)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
carbendazim	-

General status

Pesticide type

Fungicide; Metabolite; Other substance

Metabolite Type

Soil

Other bioactivity & uses

Biocide; Preservative; Slimicide

Substance groups

Benzimidazole fungicide; Carbamate fungicide

Minimum active substance purity

960 g kg⁻¹

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - 3-amino-2-hydroxyphenazine 0.0005 g kg⁻¹; 2,3-diamino-phenazine 0.0006 g kg⁻¹

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Systemic with curative and protectant activity. Inhibition of mitosis and cell division (Beta-tubulin assembly in mitosis).

CAS RN

10605-21-7

EC number

234-232-0

CIPAC number

263

US EPA chemical code

115001/128872

PubChem CID

25429

CLP index number

613-048-00-8

Molecular mass

191.21

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

methyl 1H-1,3-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate

IUPAC name

methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate

CAS name

methyl 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate

Other status information

Marine Pollutant

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Environment Agency UK non-statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life: freshwater and saltwater annual average 0.1 µg l⁻¹; max acceptable conc: 1.0 µg l⁻¹

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

White to light brown crystalline powder

Related substances & organisms

carbendazim-benzenesulfonate

carbendazim-sulfite

Can be a metabolite of:

Parent

Formation medium

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

1107/2009 relevancy

thiophanate-methyl

Soil

0.758

Major fraction

carbendazim-benzenesulfonate

Soil

Major fraction

carbendazim-sulfite

Soil

Major fraction

benomyl

Soil

thiophanate

Soil

Major fraction

Formulations

Property

Value

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

AgriGuard
DuPont
Nufarm
Barclay
BOC Sciences

Example products using this active

Delsene 50 Flo
Harvesan
Mascot
Occidor
Ringer
Punch SE

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as a soluble concentrate that is mixed with water and applied as a spray, used as a drench or pre-planting dip

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

8.0

Low

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

300

Ethanol

Benzene

135

Ethyl acetate

100

Chloroform

Melting point (°C)

305

Boiling point (°C)

Decomposes before boiling

Degradation point (°C)

305

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

3.02 X 10⁰¹

Calculated

Log P

1.48

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Insoluble

Data type

Regulatory data

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.45

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

4.2

Weak base

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

0.09

Low volatility

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

3.60 X 10^-03

Non-volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

242.5-244nm =10410, two smaller peaks at 279-280.5nm and 285-288 nm = 14670

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

Moderately persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

34.3

Moderately persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

132.5

Persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

115

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

EU dossier Lab studies DT₅₀ range 20-40 days, DT₉₀ range 86-226 days; Field studies DT₅₀ range 11-78 days, DT₉₀ range 36-257 days; Defra give general range as 8-32 days; Other sources: DT₅₀ 120 days (F3)

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

5.6

Note

Published literature RL₅₀ range 2.2-9.0 days, 2 undercover grown crops, various matrices, n=2

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

8.3

Note

Published literature RL₅₀ range 2.2-32.0 days, 18 field crops, various matrices, n=33

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Stable

Note

Stable at pH 5 to pH 7, DT₅₀ 22-124 days at pH 9

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

350

Persistent

Note

pH5:>350 days; pH7:>350 days; pH9: 54-124 days, all at 22-25 °C

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

33.7

Moderately fast

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

7.9

Moderately fast

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

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.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

3.4

Moderately mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

225

¹/_n

0.967

Notes and range

EU dossier K_f range 1.6-6.3 mL g⁻¹, K_foc range 200-246 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.87-1.12, Soils=3

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

2.21

Calculated

Transition state

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

8.69 X 10^-02

Calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Low

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Moderately mobile

Calculated

Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk

0.64

Calculated using the Atkinson method. Assumed 1.5E+06 OH/cm³, 12 hr

Below the level of concern for long-range air transport

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low potential

CT₅₀ (days)

Not available

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

$Click here for further information on Major/Minor fraction$

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

2-aminobenzimidazole

Minor fraction

0.08

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

5-hydroxy-methylbenzimidazole carbamate

5-OH-MBC; 5-OH-carbendazim

a=Animal; b=Plant

a=1.00

3-amino-2-hydroxyphenazine

AHP

Impurity

2,3-diamino-phenazine

DAP

Impurity

5-hydroxy-benzimidazol-2-yl

5-OH-carbendazim

Animal

4-hydroxy-benzimidazol-2-yl

4-OH-carbendazime

Animal

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 10000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

> 10

Rat

High

(ppm diet)

> 100

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

100

Rat Reproductive NOAEL

Moderate

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2250

Colinus virginianus

Low

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

615 mg kg bw⁻¹ day⁻¹

Anas platyrhynchos

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

26.4

Anas platyrhynchos NOEL

Moderate

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

5.4

Eisenia foetida

High

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

1.0

Eisenia foetida

Moderate

Soil micro-organisms

Nitrogen mineralisation: No significant adverse effect
Carbon mineralisation: No significant adverse effect

Dose: 1.5 kg ha⁻¹

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 50

Apis mellifera

Moderate

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 100

Apis mellifera

Low

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

> 3000

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹

> 30

Typhlodromus pyri

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.19

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

0.0032

Oncorhynchus mykiss

High

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.24

Danio rerio Eggs

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.15

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

0.0015

Daphnia magna

High

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

0.086

Americamysis bahia

High

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

0.0133

Chironomus riparius

Moderate

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (free-floating, growth) - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth) - Acute 14 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

> 10

Myriophyllum spicatum 21d

Low

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

> 7.7

Scenedesmus subspicatus

Moderate

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 10000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.8

Rat 4 hr (head/nose)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.02

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.02

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.02

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Negligible risk to consumers and bystanders

Occupational

Low risk to agricultural workers

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Evidence of liver enzyme induction
Possible liver toxicant
Increase of estrogen production and aromatase activity
May cause genetic defects
US EPA - possible human carcinogen

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H317, H340, H360fd
Environment: H400, H410

WHO Classification

U (Unlikely to present an acute hazard)

UN Number

UN3082

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

Limited shelf-life

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

carbendazim

French

carbendazime

German

Carbendazim

Danish

carbendazim

Italian

carbendazim

Spanish

carbendazima

Greek

carbendazim

Polish

karbendazym

Swedish

karbendazim

Hungarian

karbendazim

Dutch

carbendazim

Norwegian

Record last updated:	26/05/2025
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