Metam-Natrium

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Solid streams of water may be ineffective. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic, flammable; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, flammable, toxic/

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Solid streams of water may be ineffective. Use foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic/

If material on fire or involved in fire: Extinguish fire using agent suitable for type of surrounding fire (Material itself does not burn or burns with difficulty). Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, solid, toxic/

Store in a cool, dry place. Keep container closed when not in use. Do not store below 32 dg F. Product crystalizes at lower tempratures. Warm or store at higher tempratures and mix to redissolve crystals and assure uniformity before use. /Vapam/

Environmental considerations: Land spill: Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, holding area to contain liquid or solid material. Dike surface flow using soil, sand bags, foamed polyurethane, or foamed concrete. Absorb bulk liquid with fly ash, cement powder, or commercial sorbents. /SRP: If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic, flammable; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, flammable, toxic; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic/

Environmental considerations: Water spill: Use natural barriers or oil spill control booms to limit spill travel. Remove trapped material with suction hoses. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic, flammable; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, flammable, toxic; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic/

Environmental considerations: Air spill: Apply water spray or mist to knock down vapors. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic, flammable; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, flammable, toxic; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic/

Environmental considerations: Land spill: Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, holding area to contain liquid or solid material. Cover solids with a plastic sheet to prevent dissolving in rain or fire fighting water. Dike surface flow using soil, sand bags, foamed polyurethane, or foamed concrete. /SRP: If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ /Thiocarbamate pesticides, solid, toxic/

Environmental considerations: Water spill: Use natural barriers or oil spill control booms to limit spill travel. Use natural deep water pockets, excavated lagoons, or sand bag barriers to trap material at bottom. Remove trapped material with suction hoses. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, solid, toxic/

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Pesticide disposal: Pesticide wastes are toxic. Improper disposal of excess pesticide, spray mixture, or rinsate is a violation of Federal law. If these wastes cannot be disposed of by use according to label instructions, contact your State Pesticide or Environmental Control Agency, or the Hazardous Waste Representative at the nearest EPA regional office for guidance. /Vapam/

Container Disposal: Triple rinse or equivalent. Then offer for recycling or reconditioning, or puncture and dispose of in a sanitary landfill, or if allowed by state and local authorities, by burning. If burned, stay out of smoke. /Vapam/

This pesticide is toxic to fish. Do not discharge effluent containing this product into lakes, streams, ponds, estuaries, oceans or public waters unless in accordance with the requirements of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the permitting authority has been notified in writing prior to discharge. Do not discharge effluent containing this product to sewer systems without previously noti'ing the local sewage treatment plant authority. For guidance, contact your State Water Board or Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency. /Vapam/

To reduce the potential for metam-sodium and metam-potassium exposure to bystanders, handlers, and workers, and to address associated risks of concern, EPA is requiring a number of mitigation measures which include: (1) Buffer zones; (2) Dermal protection for handlers; (3) Respiratory protection and air monitoring for handlers; (3) Restrictions on the timing of perforation and removing of tarps; (4) Posting; (5) Good agricultural practices; (6) Fumigant management plans; (7) Emergency preparedness and response plans; (8) Notice to state lead agencies. The Agency also believes that registrant-developed training and community outreach programs, which are also implemented by the registrant, will help reduce risk. Additionally, EPA is interested in working with registrants to identify additional measures that could be implemented as part of product stewardship. These additional measures should include efforts to assist users' transition to the new label requirements. Some of the required mitigation measures only address one group of potentially exposed individuals (i.e., bystanders, handlers, or workers), while other measures will help reduce risk to more than one group. All mitigation measures are designed to work together to reduce exposures, enhance safety, and facilitate compliance and enforcement. ... EPA has determined that these measures, working together, will prevent unreasonable adverse effects on human health.

Buffer zones, of varying sizes based on application method, application rate, and application block size, and emission control measures are required /for fumigant use/. Buffer zones will be in effect from the time the fumigation begins until 48 hours following the application.

/For fumigant use/ EPA is requiring that buffer zones be posted at usual points of entry and along likely routes of approach to the buffer unless (1) a physical barrier such as a fence prevents access to the buffer, or (2) all of the area within 300 feet of the buffer is under the control of the owner/operator. The posting requirement is intended to prevent passersby from entering a buffer zone.

/Fumigant/ Handlers exposed to MITC vapors from metam sodium/potassium or MITC applications will either wear respirators or follow an air monitoring program. Additional dermal PPE is required for some handler tasks.

For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for SODIUM METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (27 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Approved respirator. Chemical-resistant apron when cleaning equipment, mixing or loading. Chemical-resistant headgear for overhead exposure. Protective eyewear. handlers in enclosed cabs: Coveralls, shoes, and socks. If pungent rotten egg odor of product can be detected inside of cab, face-sealing goggles, unless full-face respirator is worn.

Personnel protection: ... Wear appropriate chemical protective gloves, boots and goggles. ... Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic, flammable; Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, flammable, toxic; Thiocarbamate pesticides, solid, toxic/

Personnel protection: ... Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus. ... Wear appropriate chemical protective clothing. /Thiocarbamate pesticides, liquid, toxic/

The drug acts by interfering with alcohol metabolism so that the ingestion of alcohol is followed by distressing & occasionally dangerous symptoms. ... The disulfiram-alcohol reaction ... is not a simple intensification of alcoholic intoxication, although this may play a role. ... The acute drug-alcohol reaction ... is usually considered unpleasant, at times alarmingly so. It consists of flushing, headache, vasodilation, tachycardia, hypotension (after a transient rise in systolic pressure), nausea, restlessness, confusion & many other signs & symptoms. ... The disulfiram-alcohol reaction appears at the same time as excessive concentrations of acetaldehyde in the blood. The enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase generates acetaldehyde from ethanol. Acetaldehyde accumulates presumably because disulfiram inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme which normally oxidizes this intermediary product of alcohol metabolism to "active" acetate. ... Disulfiram is a potent inhibitor of dopamine beta-oxidase. This enzyme requires copper, which disulfiram apparently removes by chelation. Dopamine beta-oxidase is an essential enzyme in the norepinephrine biosynthetic pathway. ... Disulfiram /exposure/ leads to the depletion of norepinephrine at adrenergic nerve terminals. ... With the sympathomimetic effects of acetaldehyde blocked by disulfiram depletion of the adrenergic transmitter, the direct vasodilator effect of acetaldehyde is unmasked. The latter is presumably responsible for the fall in blood pressure in the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. /Disulfiram/

The effects of dithiocarbamates on the tissue distribution and excretion of lead were examined in rats, with special emphasis on the central nervous system. /One of the compounds tested was/ sodium monomethyldithiocarbamate (metham). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received radioactively labeled lead acetate injected into a tail vein. The dithiocarbamates or thiurams were administered by gastric intubation. One dose was given 2 hr before lead, and another immediately after. The uptake of lead by the brain was increased by ... metham. /It was concluded that/ combined exposure to lead and dithiocarbamates should be avoided.

LC50 Colinus virginianus (Bobwhite quail) oral >5000 ppm in 5 day diet ad libitum, age 14 days /Vapam; purity: technical/

LC50 Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail) oral >5000 ppm in 5 day diet ad libitum age 14 days /Vapam; purity: technical/

LC50 Phasianus colchicus (Ring-necked pheasant) >5000 ppm in 5 day diet ad libitum, age 14 days /Vapam; purity: technical/

LC50 Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) oral >5000 ppm in 5 day diet ad libitum, age 14 days /Vapam; purity: technical/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for SODIUM METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: /IT IS/ NON-PERSISTENT IN SOIL AND DISAPPEARS, UNDER MOIST CONDITIONS, WITHIN 2 WK.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: METHAM ... IS DEGRADED IN SOIL TO METHYLISOTHIOCYANATE AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE. ONE ALSO EXPECTS THAT SIMPLE HYDROLYSIS SHOULD FORM METHYL AMINE AND CARBON DISULFIDE.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Methan is weakly adsorbed to soil ... subject to photolysis ... typical field half-life is 7 days ... not volatile /Metham/

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Sodium methyldithiocarbamate hydrolyzes rapidly(1) and therefore is unlikely to adsorb to soil(SRC). Volatilization of sodium methyldithiocarbamate from moist soil or dry soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) as the compound is non-volatile(2). Sodium methyldithiocarbamate is extremely hygroscopic and unstable as the dry salt(3), exhibiting a half-life of approximately 0.06 days(2). It breaks down in moist soil to methyl isothiocyanate, the acid exhibiting a half-life range of 0.23 minutes to 4 days(3). Sodium methyldithiocarbamate was degraded 73-96% to methyl isothiocyanate within 0.1 to 4 days using acclimated and unacclimated soil inoculums(4); however its rapid transformation via abiotic processes leaves the importance of biodegradation as inconclusive(SRC).

For more Environmental Fate (Complete) data for SODIUM METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) was exposed to metam-sodium (aq formulation containing 42.2% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai corresponding to 510 g/L) in a static system for 86 /or 96/ hr. NOEC/LC0 = 0.215 mg/L (nominal concentration) and LC50 = 0.175 to 0.82 mg/L/86 or 96 hr (analytically detected concentration). Symptoms: abnormal swimming behavior and apathy. /Metam-sodium aq formulation containing 42.2% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai corresponding to 510 g/L/

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ /Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow trout)/ was exposed to metam-sodium (aqueous formulation containing 42.2% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai corresponding to 510 g/L) in a static system for 96/ hr. NOEC = 0.464 mg/L (nominal concentration); LC0 = 21.5 mg/L (nominal concentration); and LC50 = 35 mg/L/96 hr (analytically detected concentration). Symptoms: discoloration, gasping, lying on the bottom, /CNS depressed/-like state, tumbling. /Metam-sodium aq formulation containing 42.2% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai corresponding to 510 g/L/

Sodium methyldithiocarbamate hydrolyzes rapidly to form methyl isothiocyanate(1) and therefore is unlikely to adsorb or leach(SRC). In soil, this transformation occurs at an extent >90% (following first-order kinetics), corresponding to a half-life of about 0.06 days at 25 °C(2). However, a coefficient of adsorption on soil organic matter (Kom) of 228 L/kg has been reported(2).

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ May be fatal if absorbed through skin.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ The salts /of methyldithiocarbamate (sodium, ammonium, potassium)/ are irritating ... prolonged or repeated contact may cause skin burns and systemic intoxication ... .

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ In wet soil, different substances are produced as result of hydrolytic decomposition. In contact with sweating wet skin this process occurs on the skin surface. Methyl mustard oil (methylisothiocyanate) is formed as a result. Indications of an allergic response: strong focal flare-up reaction in the previous contact areas when patch testing on the back; itching and burning on the skin when in contact with nematin-containing air of the test lab or in a repair workshop; strong incorporation of radionuclides only in nematin-eczema patients as a specific reaction in the lymphocyte transformation test; and exposure time of at least one week. Metham-sodium solution may also cause toxic dermatitis with typical circinate bullae as in mustard gas. A 0.5% nematin solution (0.15% metham-sodium) causes such toxic bullous reactions.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. /Vapam/

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for SODIUM METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

AEROBIC: Sodium methyldithiocarbamate in soil breaks down by chemical means rather than by soil microorganisms(1). Data on the biodegradation of sodium methyldithiocarbamate in aquatic systems were not available(SRC, 2008).

AEROBIC: Sodium methyldithiocarbamate degradation was studied using moist soil inoculums incubated in gastight flasks in the dark at 15 °C and 3.75 mg of test compound. Soils were from seven nematode-infected fields, six previously fumigated greenhouses, and nine trials with plots treated annually and plots left untreated in the Netherlands, where the compound is used on a large scale in agriculture and horticulture(1). The compound was transformed 73-96% in all soils tested to methyl isothiocyanate, within 0.1 to 4 days after the addition of sodium methyldithiocarbamate(1). The slowest rate of methylisothiocyanate formation at 73% in 4 days was observed using Odoorn soil (2.4% clay, 18.0% silt, 0.0% CaCO3, 4.1% organic matter, pH 4.4 and 0.1 kg moisture content); typically rates were at 95% in 0.1 days such as when using Geerlig loam (36.0% clay, 45.0% silt, 8.0% CaCO3, 4.2% organic matter, pH 7.3 and 0.3 kg moisture content)(1).

As the federal pesticide law FIFRA directs, EPA is conducting a comprehensive review of older pesticides to consider their health and environmental effects and make decisions about their future use. Under this pesticide reregistration program, EPA examines health and safety data for pesticide active ingredients initially registered before November 1, 1984, and determines whether they are eligible for reregistration. In addition, all pesticides must meet the new safety standard of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Pesticides for which EPA had not issued Registration Standards prior to the effective date of FIFRA, as amended in 1988, were divided into three lists based upon their potential for human exposure and other factors, with List B containing pesticides of greater concern and List D pesticides of less concern. Sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate, or metam-sodium is found on List B. Case No: 2390; Pesticide type: Fungicide (Nematicide), Herbicide, Antimicrobial; Case Status: OPP is reviewing data from the pesticide's producers regarding its human health and/or environmental effects, or OPP is determining the pesticide's eligibility for reregistration and developing the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document.; Active ingredient (AI): Sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate, or metam-sodium; Data Call-in (DCI) Date(s): 09/19/91, 10/13/95; AI Status: The producers of the pesticide has made commitments to conduct the studies and pay the fees required for reregistration, and are meeting those commitments in a timely manner.

EPA and five makers of /metham sodium/ have agreed to certain restrictions on its use: The restrictions are meant to reduce human exposure to the pesticide. Metham sodium ... is a fumigant used to control weeds, nematodes, bacteria, and insects in soil. EPA says its review of animal studies indicates pregnant women exposed to the pesticide may risk birth defects. Under the new restrictions, individuals using metham sodium must wear protective clothing, and only certified applicators may use it around homes. Metham sodium producers have agreed to voluntarily recall the product from home owners and noncertified applicants.

The /USEPA/ has determined that certain uses of (1) metam sodium (including use as a pre-plant soil fumigant in certain crops, specified /in the R.E.D./, and as a root control agent in sewers and drains, and as an antimicrobial agent to treat wood poles and timbers and sewage sludge and animal waste); (2) metam-potassium (including as a pre-plant soil fumigant in certain crops, specified later in this document, and as an antimicrobial agent for treatment of pulp and paper, tanning drum leather applications, recirculating cooling water systems; and industrial water purification systems); and (3) MITC (as an antimicrobial agent to treat wood poles and pilings) are eligible for reregistration, provided the risk mitigation measures outlined in /the R.E.D./ are adopted, label amendments are made to reflect these measures ... , and data are developed to assess intermediate- and long-term risk to bystanders.

Based on its evaluation of metam-sodium, metam-potassium, and MITC, the /USEPA/ has determined that products containing these chemicals, unless labeled and used as specified in /the 2008 R.E.D./, would present risks inconsistent with FIFRA. Accordingly, should a registrant fail to implement any of the risk mitigation measures identified in /the 2008 R.E.D., the EPA/ may take regulatory action to address the risk concerns from the use of these chemicals. If all changes outlined in this /R.E.D./ are incorporated into the product labels, then current risks for metam sodium, metam-potassium, and MITC will be adequately mitigated for the purposes of this determination under FIFRA. Once a comprehensive endangered species assessment is completed, further changes to these registrations may be necessary.

Used as a fungicide and nematicide; [Kanerva, p. 1834] Used as a soil fumigant for control of weeds, weed seeds, nematodes, fungi, and soil insects; [Merck Index] Used as non-selective soil fumigant that possesses fungicidal, herbicidal, insecticidal, and nematicidal properties; Approved for use on food, feed, and fiber crops, turf grass, sewers, and drained ponds and lakes (California only); Also used as antimicrobial agent for wood poles, leather processing, sugar cane and beet processing, sewage sludge, and animal waste; [Reference #2] Approved for use in the EU as a pre-plant soil disinfectant for vegetables, fruit trees, grape vines, nurseries, ornamentals, and other crops; [EFSA]

Restricted use pesticide for application on golf courses, small areas of turf and soil, and in sewers and drains; [Reference #2]

Applying Wood Preservatives [Category: Other]

For Sodium Methyldithiocarbamate (USEPA/OPP Pesticide Code: 039003) ACTIVE products with label matches. /SRP: Registered for use in the U.S. but approved pesticide uses may change periodically and so federal, state and local authorities must be consulted for currently approved uses./

Metam-sodium and metam-potassium are broad spectrum fumigants with fungicidal, bactericidal, algaecide, herbicidal, insecticidal, nematicidal, and antimicrobial properties. They are dithiocarbamate salts that break down quickly in the environment to the primary toxic degradate, methyl isothiocyanate (MITC). MITC is highly volatile and is responsible for the fumigant properties of metam-sodium and metam-potassium.

Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) Classification. MITC, the byproduct of metam sodium, metam potassium, and dazomet, meets the criteria for restricted use based on human hazard criteria and exposure incidents. All soil fumigant products containing metam sodium or metam potassium will be RUPs.

Carbamodithioic acid, methyl-, monosodium salt is listed as a High Production Volume (HPV) chemical (65FR81686). Chemicals listed as HPV were produced in or imported into the U.S. in >1 million pounds in 1990 and/or 1994. The HPV list is based on the 1990 Inventory Update Rule. (IUR) (40 CFR part 710 subpart B; 51FR21438).

/It is/ prepared from methylamine, carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide; From methyl isothiocyanate and sodium bisulfide.

Metam sodium is produced by reaction of methylamine with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide.

Soluble concentrates, aqueous solutions.

... Since /pure metham/ is unstable, the commercial formulation (Vapam) is always kept as a concentrated 32.7% solution in water.

Trade Names ... Metam 426, Polefume, Turfcure, Vapam, Vapam HL, Busan 1236, Nemasol, Metam CLR, Sectagon 42, Sistan, Meter, Soldier

Basamid liquid (aq formulation containing 45% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai); Metam-Fluid (aq formulation containing 42.2% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai); VAPAM technical (technical formulation containing 32.9% methylcarbamodithionic acid monosodium salt as ai)

For more Formulations/Preparations (Complete) data for SODIUM METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (37 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard identifies Metam-sodium (technical grade) as Class II: moderately hazardous; Main Use: fungicide-applied to soil: not used with herbicides or plant growth regulators.

The /USEPA/ has determined that certain uses of (1) metam sodium (including use as a pre-plant soil fumigant in certain crops, specified /in the R.E.D./, and as a root control agent in sewers and drains, and as an antimicrobial agent to treat wood poles and timbers and sewage sludge and animal waste); (2) metam-potassium (including as a pre-plant soil fumigant in certain crops, specified later in this document, and as an antimicrobial agent for treatment of pulp and paper, tanning drum leather applications, recirculating cooling water systems; and industrial water purification systems); and (3) MITC (as an antimicrobial agent to treat wood poles and pilings) are eligible for reregistration, provided the risk mitigation measures outlined in /the R.E.D./ are adopted, label amendments are made to reflect these measures ... , and data are developed to assess intermediate- and long-term risk to bystanders.

Metham-sodium was introduced by Stauffer Chemical Company & later by EI du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc, & ICI Plant Protection Division (neither of whom now market it). US patents 2,766,554; 2,791,605; GBP /British patent/ 789,690 all Stauffer Chemical Company as code number N-869 (Stauffer); trade marks Vapam (Stauffer), VPM (formerly du Pont), Sistan (ICI).

... /Metham sodium gives/ a complete kill of root knot nematodes in sandy soil at 5 ppm. It is an effective non-selective herbicide at rates of ... 200 lb/acre. ... it is particularly effective in cracks & under walks where the methyl isothiocyanate is confined.

For more General Manufacturing Information (Complete) data for SODIUM METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.