CARBENDAZIM TECH

Product Description

Carbendazim is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide(1) that plays a very important role in plant disease control(2). It was first reported in ***3(3) and was developed by BASF, Hoeschst (now part of Bayer) and Dupont(4). Carbendazim is used to control a broad range of diseases on arable crops (cereals, oilseed rape), fruits, vegetables and ornamentals(5). It is also used in post-harvest food storage, and as a seed pre-planting treatment(6). It is frequently sold in combination with other fungicides, such as triazoles, dithiocarbamates and dicarboximides(7). Carbendazim works by inhibiting the development of fungi probably by interfering with spindle formation at mitosis (cell division)(8).

Usage
Carbendazim has extensive applications worldwide(9), with the global market worth over $**0 million at user level, equivalent to over ****0 tones active ingredient(*0). It is particularly applied in Europe and the Far East(*1). In China, production is over ***0 tonnes per year, and ***0 tonnes are produced every year in India, where the increasing consumption of carbendazim has now reached over **0 tonnes per annum(*2). In Great Britain, the annual area treated in ***1 was **9,**8 hectares, with arable crops accounting for *5% (**8,**7 hectares) of this use(*3). For example, *8.6% of the winter oil seed rape grown (**7,**3 ha) in Great Britain is given at least one treatment of carbendazim, and *4% (*1,**8 ha) is given two treatments(*4). Over the years, there has been a gradual reduction in carbendazim use – in ***6 just over two million hectares were treated with carbendazim in Great Britain, compared to nearly 1.8 million hectares in ***9 and **1,**0 hectares in ***0(*5). This is because modern conazole and strobilurin fungicides are more efficacious(*6). 

Acute toxicity
Carbendazim is classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as ‘unlikely to present hazard in normal use’(*7). The acute oral LD*0 (dose at which half the sample is dead) for rats is >****0 mg/kg and >***0 mg/kg for dogs(*8). On the basis of the analysis of rat, dog and rabbit studies, the UK Advisory Committee of Pesticides (ACP) evaluation concluded that carbendazim is of low toxicity to rodent and non-rodent species via the oral, dermal, inhalational and intraperitoneal routes’(*9). 
    The primary source of carbendazim exposure for the public at large is dietary intake(*0); this is discussed further below. For agricultural workers, occupational exposure during manufacture or use is considered to be within acceptable levels(*1). The International Programme for Chemical Safety (IPCS) do not indicate that there is a danger of exposure to carbendazim during its production and use in agriculture. As workers are most likely to suffer exposure through skin contact or inhalation, risk can be controlled by the use of protective clothing(*2) and the use of a dust mask is recommended(*3).