Bensulide

updated Jul 08, 2010 by Maria Mergel

[This article has been tagged for development.]

Overview

Bensulide is one of the few Organophosphates used as an herbicide to control grasses and weeds that threaten numerous crops. Its domestic use is relatively low even though it is classified as a General Use Pesticide (EPA, 1990). Bensulide's toxicity is not very high, but it can cause damage if it is ingested in large quantities (EXTOXNET).

Lead Editor

Sean Foley

Lead Author

Sean Foley

Just the facts

Physical Information
Name: Bensulide
Use: herbicide
Source: synthetic chemistry
Recommended daily intake: none
Absorption: ingestion
Sensitive individuals: workers and homeowners who employ bensulide
Toxicity/symptoms: slightly toxic
Regulatory facts: General Use Pesticide
Environmental: toxic to aquatic organisms, bees, and slightly toxic to birds
Recommendations: use sparingly

Chemical Structure

Structure received from PesticideInfo.org

Chemical Description

Pharmacology and Metabolism

Uses and Benefits

Bensulide continues to be used to control unwanted weeds and grasses around numerous crops. Around 550,000 pounds are used annually (EPA, 2006).

Health Effects

Bensulide's acute toxicity is not high, but it can cause problems if ingested in large quantities. Symptoms of acute poisoning are vomiting, convulsions, abdominal cramps, slurring of speech, and even death (EXTOXNET).

Bensulide inhibits Cholinasterase production like all other [organiphosphates] including the Nerve Agents. Therefore, nervous system ailments are the result of chronic exposure to bensulide.

Not everyone is at risk of poisoning. Workers and homeowners who apply bensulide are those that need be most careful. Bensulide exposure from foods and water sources is negligible (EPA, 1990).

Environmental Effects

The environmental effects of bensulide are not completely known (EPA, 1999). However, it is apparent that Bensulide is slightly toxic to birds, and is slightly to highly toxic to aquatic organisms and bees (EXTOXNET).

Precautions

People who regularly handle bensulide or who have it applied to their residence should take extra care to avoid ingestion. Watch out for children eating dirt and wash hands often.

Those working with bensulide should wear protective gear at all times. See EPA, 1990 for detailed instruction about precautionary measures.

Current Events

Regulation

It is classified as a [general use pesticide].

History

Teaching Resources

External Links

References

EXTOXNET. Pesticide Information Profiles - Bensulide. Revised June 1996. Accessed 5-1-07.

Environmental Protection Agency. "Bensulide Facts". June, 2000. Accessed 5-1-07.

Environmental Protection Agency. "Environmental Risk Assessment - Bensulide". June, 1999. Accessed 5-1-07.

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_\[This article has been tagged for development.\]_

h2. Overview


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Bensulide is one of the few [organophosphates] used as an [herbicide|herbicides] to control grasses and weeds that threaten numerous crops. Its domestic use is relatively low even though it is classified as a General Use Pesticide ([#EPA, 1990]). Bensulide's toxicity is not very high, but it can cause damage if it is ingested in large quantities ([#EXTOXNET]).
{authors}
Lead Editor:
[Sean Foley]
Lead Author:
[Sean Foley]
{authors}
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{section:border=true}
{column:width=50%}
{color:green}{*}Just the facts{*}{color}

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|| {color:red}{*}Physical Information{*}{color} ||
| Name: Bensulide |
| Use: [herbicide|herbicides] |
| Source: synthetic chemistry |
| Recommended daily intake: none |
| Absorption: ingestion |
| Sensitive individuals: workers and homeowners who employ bensulide |
| Toxicity/symptoms: slightly toxic |
| Regulatory facts: General Use Pesticide |
| Environmental: toxic to aquatic organisms, bees, and slightly toxic to birds |
| Recommendations:  use sparingly |
{column}
{column:width=50%}
*Chemical Structure*

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!bensulide.gif|thumbnail!
Structure received from [PesticideInfo.org|http://www.pesticideinfo.org/ChemGifs/PC33383.gif]
{column}
{section}
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{anchor: Chemical Description}

h2. Chemical Description


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{anchor:Pharmacology and Metabolism}

h2. Pharmacology and Metabolism


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{anchor:Uses and Benefits}

h2. Uses and Benefits


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Bensulide continues to be used to control unwanted weeds and grasses around numerous crops. Around 550,000 pounds are used annually ([#EPA, 2006]).
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{anchor: Health Effects}

h2. Health Effects


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Bensulide's acute toxicity is not high, but it can cause problems if ingested in large quantities. Symptoms of acute poisoning are vomiting, convulsions, abdominal cramps, slurring of speech, and even death ([#EXTOXNET]).
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Bensulide inhibits [cholinasterase] production like all other [organiphosphates] including the [nerve agents]. Therefore, nervous system ailments  are the result of chronic exposure to bensulide.
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Not everyone is at risk of poisoning. Workers and homeowners who apply bensulide are those that need be most careful. Bensulide exposure from foods and water sources is negligible ([#EPA, 1990]).
\\
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{anchor:Environmental Effects}

h2. Environmental Effects


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The environmental effects of bensulide are not completely known ([#EPA, 1999]). However, it is apparent that Bensulide is slightly toxic to birds, and is slightly to highly toxic to aquatic organisms and bees ([#EXTOXNET]).
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{anchor: Precautions}

h2. Precautions


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People who regularly handle bensulide or who have it applied to their residence should take extra care to avoid ingestion. Watch out for children eating dirt and wash hands often.
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Those working with bensulide should wear protective gear at all times. See [#EPA, 1990] for detailed instruction about precautionary measures.
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{anchor:Current Events}

h2. Current Events


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{anchor:Regulation}

h2. Regulation


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It is classified as a [general use pesticide].
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{anchor: History}

h2. History


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{anchor:Teaching resources}

h2. Teaching Resources


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{anchor:External Links}

h2. External Links


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{anchor: References}

h2. References


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{anchor:EXTOXNET}
EXTOXNET. [Pesticide Information Profiles - Bensulide|http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/bensulid.htm]. Revised June 1996. Accessed 5-1-07.
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{anchor:EPA, 1999}
Environmental Protection Agency. ["Bensulide Facts"|http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/2035fact.pdf]. June, 2000. Accessed 5-1-07.
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{anchor:EPA, 1990}
Environmental Protection Agency. ["Environmental Risk Assessment - Bensulide"|http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/bensulide/ben_efed.pdf]. June, 1999. Accessed 5-1-07.
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