Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
metabolic conversion to fluorocitric acid as a competitive inhibitor of the en-
zyme aconitase, competing with citric acid for the enzyme and, therefore,
blocking the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
Commercial products include Compound 1080, Fratol, and Yasoknock.
Toxicology
Sodium fluoride and fluosilicate used as insecticides present a serious
toxic hazard to humans because of high inherent toxicity, and the possibility
that children crawling on floors of treated dwellings will ingest the material.
Absorption across the skin is probably slight and methods of pesticide
use rarely include a hazard of inhalation, but uptake of ingested fluoride by the
gut is efficient and potentially lethal. Excretion is chiefly in the urine; renal
clearance of fluoride from the blood is rapid. However, large loads of absorbed
fluoride poison renal tubule cells. Functional tubular disturbances and some-
times acute renal failure result.
5.
Boric Acid and Borates
Commercial available as boric acid, sodium tetraborate decahydrate
(borax), sodium pentaborate, boron trioxide, and sodium biborate.
Commercial products include Polybor, and Pyrobor.
Products are formulated as tablets and powder to kill larvae in livestock
confinement areas and cockroaches in residences. Solutions are rarely sprayed
as a nonselective herbicide.
Toxicology and Mode of Action—Borate
Borax dust is moderately irritating to skin. Inhaled dust causes irritation
of the respiratory tract, cough, and shortness of breath.
There have been few poisonings from the pesticidal uses of borates, al-
though powders and pellets scattered on the floors of homes do present a haz-
ard to children. Most poisonings have resulted from injudicious uses in hu-
man medicine aimed at suppressing bacterial growth, such as compresses for
burns. Many poisonings of newborns occurred in the 1950s and 1960s.
6.
Formamidines
F or ma mi di ne s c om pr is e a s ma ll g ro up o f p ro mi si ng i ns ec ti ci de s.
Chlordimeform, formetanate, and amitraz are examples of this group. These
compounds are effective against most stages of mites and ticks. Thus they are
classified as ovicides, insecticides, and acaricides. Formulations are emulsifi-
able concentrates and water-soluble powders.
Commercial products include Bermat, Fundal, Galecron, and Ovatoxin.
