DOCSLIB.ORG

Metaldehyde Poisoning from Slug Bait Ingestion

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Metaldehyde Poisoning from Slug Bait Ingestion CASE REPORTS Refer to: Longstreth WT Jr, Pierson DJ: Metaldehyde poisoning from slug bait ingestion. West J Med 1982 Aug; 137:134- oculocephalic reflexes and corneal reflexes were 137 present. Tone and tendon reflexes were diffusely increased though there were flexor plantar re- sponses. Chvostek's sign was present. Laboratory testing was remarkable for an unmeasured anion gap of 23 mEq per liter, though the arterial blood Metaldehyde Poisoning gas determinations showed respiratory alkalosis with pH 7.57 and carbon dioxide partial pressure From Slug Bait Ingestion (Pco2) 21 mm of mercury. Urine pH was 5.5 with W. T. LONGSTRETH, Jr, MD ketones present. Serum calcium and magnesium DAVID J. PIERSON, MD levels were normal. Toxicologic studies on blood Seattle and gastric contents were negative except for an unidentified substance. Her hospital course was complicated by severe WE RECENTLY CARED FOR a patient with massive muscle spasms and repeated generalized convul- metaldehyde poisoning and report the case to fam- sions despite therapeutic concentrations of pheny- iliarize physicians with the toxic effects of the toin and phenobarbital in the blood. Diazepam substance, as well as to outline a rational approach administered intravenously only briefly controlled to future cases. the spasms and convulsions. Although the serum creatine kinase level was elevated to four times Report of a Case normal, significant myoglobinuria did not develop. A 32-year-old woman, a grade school teacher, She also had pneumonia, increased oral and tra- had a one-year history of depression and several cheobronchial secretions and elevated serum trans- suicide attempts. Early one morning she swallowed aminase levels, which peaked during the second approximately 470 ml (16 oz) of a commercial week and returned to normal by the time of dis- liquid slug bait (Deadline, Pace National Corpo- charge. Convulsions continued for three days, ration) that contains 4 percent metaldehyde; in during which time an interictal electroencephalo- all, 18.9 grams or approximately 330 mg per kg of gram showed diffuse slowing with scattered epi- body weight was ingested. All other ingredients are leptiform discharges. The coma lasted for seven inert without known toxicity. days but tracheal intubation was prolonged to She soon had nausea and then vomiting. Two nine days due to general weakness and excessive hours after the ingestion she had the first of many secretions. generalized convulsions. Initially she was treated When communication became possible the pa- at a local hospital with gastric lavage, activated tient was noted to have pronounced memory charcoal and diazepam, but later that day was deficits, an exaggerated glabellar reflex and prom- transferred to Harborview Medical Center (Seat- inent snout and palmomental reflexes. Three tle) because of continuing convulsions, decreased months before this admission, the findings of a mental status and muscle spasms. By the time detailed neurologic examination (done during a transfer was completed the patient was comatose. hospital stay for a suicide attempt) had been On examination she was found to weigh 58 kg, entirely normal. her blood pressure was 130/90 mm of mercury, Her strength improved and administration of temperature 38.1°C and respirations 20 per min- anticonvulsant drugs was discontinued. Findings ute. An endotracheal tube was in place. Findings on lumbar puncture and contrast-enhanced cranial on general examination were unremarkable except computerized tomography were normal. Although for healed lacerations on her wrists and neck. On her mental status improved slowly, at best she had neurologic examination she was noted to be un- a poor recent and remote memory, flat affect and responsive to voice or painful stimuli. Pupils were pronounced latency of response. She was subse- reactive, eye movements were full on horizontal quently transferred to the psychiatric service. A repeat electroencephalogram was normal. Psycho- From the Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology ( Dr. Longstreth), and Division of Respiratory Diseases (Dr. Pierson), logical testing showed a verbal intelligence quo- Harborview Medical Center, Seattle. Submitted, revised, July 20, 1981. tient (IQ) of 100 and a performance IQ of 88 Reprint requests to: David J. Pierson, MD, Department of with a full scale IQ of 94; Halstan-Reitan battery Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. impairment index was 0.7. Primarily she had an 134 AUGUST 1982 * 137 * 2 CASE REPORTS adaptive problem-solving impairment and severe TABLE 1.-Metaldehyde Poisoning: Relation impairment of memory in both verbal and visual- Between Ingested Dose and Clinical Effects* spatial areas. The patient was discharged 51 days Dose Clinical Eflects after the attempted suicide. Traces (a few mg/kg) . Salivation, facial flushing, One year after the poisoning, the patient re- fever, abdominal cramps, ported by telephone that her memory had returned nausea, vomiting almost to normal. Although still unemployed, she Up to 50 mg/kg ....... Drowsiness, tachycardia, had plans to spasms, irritability, salivation, eventually return to teaching. She abdominal cramps, facial declined a more formal follow-up evaluation. flushing, nausea 50-100 mg/kg ......... increased muscle tone Discussion Ataxia, 100-150 mg/kg ........ Convulsions, tremor, hyper- The first cases of metaldehyde poisoning oc- reflexia curred in the 1920's when metaldehyde was used 150-200 mg/kg ........ Muscle twitching Approximately as a combustible, that is, "meta-fuel" tablets.1-3 400 mg/kg ......... Coma, death The cases reported from Great Britain and con- tinental Europe were similar to the present case, *Adapted from Borbely.7 with vomiting, convulsions and coma being prom- inent features. It was not until the 1930's that by Ludin3 reviews the report of a person who inten- serendipity metaldehyde was discovered to be a tionally ingested approximately 2 grams of metal- potent molluscicide: "A lady who was using 'meta- dehyde to see if it had the same hypnotic effect fuel' to heat her curling tongs and threw the re- as paraldehyde. The acute symptoms were as mains out the window afterwards observed an described in the first two categories in the table assemblage of dead slugs."4 but he also reported a prolonged (weeks) yet There have been few reports of serious metal- reversible memory loss. dehyde poisoning with slug or snail baits in hu- The frequency of poisoning in the United States mans,5-6 and serious accidental poisonings with is unknown. From 1966 to 1980 the Environ- the meta-fuel tablets have been reduced since the mental Protection Agency (EPA) Pesticide and introduction in 1932 of a peppery coating on the Toxic Substance Branch found that 76 of 34,616 tablets. Intentional poisoning with the tablets has incidents reported involved metaldehyde, mostly continued mostly with suicide attempts, though in molluscicides, meta-f4el tablets not being avail- homicides have been reported as well.3 able in the United States.8 There were 52 cases of Borbely7 has reviewed 213 cases of metaldehyde metaldehyde poisoning in humans and 40 of 44 poisoning gleaned from the 15,000 cases in the home exposures involved children. Among the Swiss Toxicological Information Center between children, symptoms were minimal or absent and 1966 and 1969. All the cases of poisoning in there were no deaths. In three cases, including the children were accidental and were divided equally one reported here, the poisoning was severe. In between meta-fuel tablets and molluscicides. In one, nausea, vomiting and coma occurred without adults 20 of 24 cases were intentional and all other known details. In another, a 36-year-old involved the tablets. As would be expected with man ingested metaldehyde in an ethylene glycol the higher concentration of metaldehyde in the base. Vomiting, acidosis, tremulousness, convul- tablets, most of the cases with severe symptoms sions and coma ensued. The course was stormy involved tablets and only one involved a mollus- but not fatal. None of the exposures in humans cicide. In most children there were minimal symp- reported by the EPA is known to have resulted in toms and none died. Both fatalities in the series death.8 had intentionally taken a large number of the Of the approximately 187,000 cases reported to tablets. Although complete information was not the National Poison Center Network in 1979 from available in all cases, Borbely was able to establish all regions of the United States, 25 involved metal- a relationship between amount of metaldehyde dehyde.9 All 25 were children, 24 of whom were ingested and subsequent symptoms, as shown in treated at home, only one being seen in an emer- Table 1.7 gency room. In all, 21 of the 25 were asympto- Long-term sequelae from serious poisonings matic, 4 had mild symptoms and none died. are not well described. Our patient's memory prob- Interestingly, 80 percent of the reports came from lems that improved with time are of interest. Washington State. Unfortunately the reports to THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 135 CASE REPORTS the center are not complete and cases from Oregon salsolinol, an alkaloid shown to affect brain and California are not included. Given the density calcium metabolism and to be reversed by nalox- of slugs and snails-and hence molluscicide use- one hydrochloride.20 Whereas acetaldehyde com- on the West Coast, exposures are probably high petitively inhibits the aldehyde dehydrogenase throughout this area.'0 Most of the cases reported pathway, the alternate aldehyde reductase path- by the EPA came from California. Drs. K. Mattie way for breakdown is inhibited by barbiturates and A. Peoples, Worker Health and Safety Bureau and phenytoin.'0 In the treatment of convulsions of Pest Management, State Department of Food in metaldehyde poisoning, therefore, not only is and Agriculture, have monitored metaldehyde paraldehyde-a congener of metaldehyde-prob- poisoning in California and also report that inges- ably contraindicated, but so may be phenobarbital tion is common, almost always in children and and phenytoin.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Review of the Molluscicide Metaldehyde in the Environment Environmental Science Water Research & Technology
    Volume 3 Number 3 May 2017 Pages 381–574 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology rsc.li/es-water ISSN 2053-1400 CRITICAL REVIEW G. R. Fones et al. Review of the molluscicide metaldehyde in the environment Environmental Science Water Research & Technology View Article Online CRITICAL REVIEW View Journal | View Issue Review of the molluscicide metaldehyde in the Cite this: Environ. Sci.: Water Res. environment Technol., 2017, 3,415 G. D. Castle,a G. A. Mills,b A. Gravell,c L. Jones,d I. Townsend,d D. G. Camerone and G. R. Fones *a Metaldehyde is the active ingredient in most slug pellets used to protect crops. This molluscicide is consid- ered an emerging pollutant and is frequently detected in surface water bodies above the EU statutory drinking water limit of 0.1 μgL−1 for a pesticide. This presents a challenge for providers of drinking water. Received 4th February 2017, Understanding the sources, transport and environmental fate of this compound is therefore important. This Accepted 10th April 2017 critical review discusses these aspects including monitoring and analytical techniques used for the detec- tion of metaldehyde in environmental matrices. Novel techniques used for the removal of metaldehyde DOI: 10.1039/c7ew00039a from drinking water are presented together with potential catchment management strategies and initiatives rsc.li/es-water useful for the mitigation of this molluscicide in the environment. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. Water impact Metaldehyde is a potent molluscicide and is applied to land as baited-pellets. Due to its physicochemical properties, metaldehyde runs off readily from fields and enters surface water bodies where often it can be present at drinking water capitation sites at elevated concentrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Alphabetical Index of Substances and Articles
    ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF SUBSTANCES AND ARTICLES - 355 - NOTES TO THE INDEX 1. This index is an alphabetical list of the substances and articles which are listed in numerical order in the Dangerous Goods List in Chapter 3.2. 2. For the purpose of determining the alphabetical order the following information has been ignored even when it forms part of the proper shipping name: numbers; Greek letters; the abbreviations “sec” and “tert”; and the letters “N” (nitrogen), “n” (normal), “o” (ortho) “m” (meta), “p” (para) and “N.O.S.” (not otherwise specified). 3. The name of a substance or article in block capital letters indicates a proper shipping name. 4. The name of a substance or article in block capital letters followed by the word “see” indicates an alternative proper shipping name or part of a proper shipping name (except for PCBs). 5. An entry in lower case letters followed by the word “see” indicates that the entry is not a proper shipping name; it is a synonym. 6. Where an entry is partly in block capital letters and partly in lower case letters, the latter part is considered not to be part of the proper shipping name. 7. A proper shipping name may be used in the singular or plural, as appropriate, for the purposes of documentation and package marking. - 356 - INDEX Name and description Class UN No. Name and description Class UN No. Accumulators, electric, see 4.3 3292 Acid mixture, nitrating acid, see 8 1796 8 2794 8 2795 Acid mixture, spent, nitrating acid, see 8 1826 8 2800 8 3028 Acraldehyde, inhibited, see 6.1 1092 ACETAL 3 1088
    [Show full text]
  • Ubiquity of Microbial Capacity to Degrade Metaldehyde in Dissimilar Agricul- Tural, Allotment and Garden Soils
    Journal Pre-proofs Ubiquity of microbial capacity to degrade metaldehyde in dissimilar agricul- tural, allotment and garden soils Natasha Balashova, Sarah Wilderspin, Chao Cai, Brian J. Reid PII: S0048-9697(19)35405-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135412 Reference: STOTEN 135412 To appear in: Science of the Total Environment Received Date: 19 September 2019 Revised Date: 4 November 2019 Accepted Date: 5 November 2019 Please cite this article as: N. Balashova, S. Wilderspin, C. Cai, B.J. Reid, Ubiquity of microbial capacity to degrade metaldehyde in dissimilar agricultural, allotment and garden soils, Science of the Total Environment (2019), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135412 This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. © 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V. 1 2 3 Ubiquity of microbial capacity to degrade metaldehyde 4 in dissimilar agricultural, allotment and garden soils 5 6 7 Natasha Balashova1, Sarah Wilderspin1, Chao Cai1,2 and Brian J. Reid1* 8 9 1 School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK 10 2 Institute for Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, P.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of the Molluscicide Metaldehyde in the Environment Environmental Science Water Research & Technology
    Volume 3 Number 3 May 2017 Pages 381–574 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology rsc.li/es-water ISSN 2053-1400 CRITICAL REVIEW G. R. Fones et al. Review of the molluscicide metaldehyde in the environment Environmental Science Water Research & Technology View Article Online CRITICAL REVIEW View Journal | View Issue Review of the molluscicide metaldehyde in the Cite this: Environ. Sci.: Water Res. environment Technol., 2017, 3,415 G. D. Castle,a G. A. Mills,b A. Gravell,c L. Jones,d I. Townsend,d D. G. Camerone and G. R. Fones *a Metaldehyde is the active ingredient in most slug pellets used to protect crops. This molluscicide is consid- ered an emerging pollutant and is frequently detected in surface water bodies above the EU statutory drinking water limit of 0.1 μgL−1 for a pesticide. This presents a challenge for providers of drinking water. Received 4th February 2017, Understanding the sources, transport and environmental fate of this compound is therefore important. This Accepted 10th April 2017 critical review discusses these aspects including monitoring and analytical techniques used for the detec- tion of metaldehyde in environmental matrices. Novel techniques used for the removal of metaldehyde DOI: 10.1039/c7ew00039a from drinking water are presented together with potential catchment management strategies and initiatives rsc.li/es-water useful for the mitigation of this molluscicide in the environment. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. Water impact Metaldehyde is a potent molluscicide and is applied to land as baited-pellets. Due to its physicochemical properties, metaldehyde runs off readily from fields and enters surface water bodies where often it can be present at drinking water capitation sites at elevated concentrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Removal of Metaldehyde in Aqueous Solutions by Heterogeneous Photocatalysis and Adsorption Processes
    Removal of metaldehyde in aqueous solutions by heterogeneous photocatalysis and adsorption processes A thesis submitted to University College London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Zhuojun Li Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering University College London January 2020 1 Declaration I, Zhuojun Li confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. Name: Zhuojun Li Signature: Date: 2 Abstract Metaldehyde has been detected in surface water and drinking water in the UK, exceeding the EU and UK standard of 0.1 µg L-1. Conventional water treatment methods are not effective due to the physicochemical properties of metaldehyde while newly proposed methods are under research and cannot be applied at an industrial scale. This thesis investigated the removal of metaldehyde from aqueous solutions by heterogeneous photocatalysis using nanoparticle photocatalysts and adsorption processes using carbon materials, aiming to provide a feasible solution to the problem. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) proved to be the most effective material to remove metaldehyde from water. It has a relatively large specific surface area of 962.4 m2 g-1 and a pore size distribution in the micro-/meso-pores range that favours adsorption of metaldehyde. Adsorption of metaldehyde onto PAC was explained by the Langmuir -1 isotherm model, with a highest maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 28.33 mg g , and by the pseudo-second order kinetic model, with highest adsorption rate (k2) of 0.16 g -1 -1 mg min . Low initial concentration of metaldehyde solution led to lower qm of PAC for metaldehyde due to low driving force for mass transfer and competition with water molecules.
    [Show full text]
  • Use Products Containing Metaldehyde
    United States Prevention, Pesticides OPP-2005-0231 Environmental Protection And Toxic Substances July 27, 2006 Agency (7508P) _________________________________________________________________ Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Metaldehyde List A Case No. 0576 Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) Document For Metaldehyde Approved by: /s/ . Debra Edwards, Ph. D. Director Special Review and Reregistration Division Date: July 27, 2006__ . Page 2 of 53 TABLE OF CONTENTS Metaldehyde Reregistration Eligibility Decision Team ............................................... 5 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations.......................................................................... 6 I. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 8 II. Chemical Overview............................................................................................ 10 III. Summary of the Metaldehyde Science Assessments......................................... 11 A. Human Health Risk Assessment ..................................................................... 12 1. Acute Toxicity .............................................................................................. 12 2. FQPA Safety Factor..................................................................................... 12 3. Endpoint Selection ....................................................................................... 13 4. Dietary Exposure and Risk from Food and Drinking Water..................... 15 a)
    [Show full text]
  • Hazardous Materials Descriptions and Codes
    2012 Commodity Flow Survey Hazardous Materials Descriptions and Codes Hazardous Materials Descriptions and Proper Shipping Names UN or NA Code Accellerene, see p-Nitrosodimethylaniline Accumulators, electric, see Batteries, wet etc Accumulators, pressurized, pneumatic or hydraulic (containing non-flammable gas), see Articles pressurized, pneumatic or hydraulic (containing non-flammable gas) Acetal 1088 Acetaldehyde 1089 Acetaldehyde ammonia 1841 Acetaldehyde oxime 2332 Acetic acid, glacial or Acetic acid solution, with more than 80 percent acid, by mass 2789 Acetic acid solution, not less than 50 percent but not more than 80 percent acid, by 2790 mass Acetic acid solution, with more than 10 percent and less than 50 percent acid, by mass 2790 Acetic anhydride 1715 Acetone 1090 Acetone cyanohydrin, stabilized 1541 Acetone oils 1091 Acetonitrile 1648 Acetyl bromide 1716 Acetyl chloride 1717 Acetyl iodide 1898 Acetyl methyl carbinol 2621 Acetylene, dissolved 1001 Acetylene tetrabromide, see Tetrabromoethane Acid butyl phosphate, see Butyl acid phosphate Acid, sludge, see Sludge acid Acridine 2713 Acrolein dimer, stabilized 2607 Acrolein, stabilized 1092 Acrylamide, solid 2074 Acrylamide solution 3426 Acrylic acid, stabilized 2218 Acrylonitrile, stabilized 1093 Actuating cartridge, explosive, see Cartridges, power device Adhesives, containing a flammable liquid 1133 Adiponitrile 2205 Aerosols, poison, Packing Group III (each not exceeding 1 L capacity) 1950 Aerosols, flammable, (each not exceeding 1 L capacity) 1950 Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text- idx?c=ecfr&sid=dfec99df9f21ef29b59a8565433a56cd&rgn=div6&view=text&node=49:2.1.1.3.8.2&idno=49 1 Hazardous Materials Descriptions and Proper Shipping Names UN or NA Code Aerosols, flammable, n.o.s.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of the Molluscicide Metaldehyde in the Environment Environmental Science Water Research & Technology
    Volume 3 Number 3 May 2017 Pages 381–574 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology rsc.li/es-water ISSN 2053-1400 CRITICAL REVIEW G. R. Fones et al. Review of the molluscicide metaldehyde in the environment Environmental Science Water Research & Technology View Article Online CRITICAL REVIEW View Journal | View Issue Review of the molluscicide metaldehyde in the Cite this: Environ. Sci.: Water Res. environment Technol., 2017, 3,415 G. D. Castle,a G. A. Mills,b A. Gravell,c L. Jones,d I. Townsend,d D. G. Camerone and G. R. Fones *a Metaldehyde is the active ingredient in most slug pellets used to protect crops. This molluscicide is consid- ered an emerging pollutant and is frequently detected in surface water bodies above the EU statutory drinking water limit of 0.1 μgL−1 for a pesticide. This presents a challenge for providers of drinking water. Received 4th February 2017, Understanding the sources, transport and environmental fate of this compound is therefore important. This Accepted 10th April 2017 critical review discusses these aspects including monitoring and analytical techniques used for the detec- tion of metaldehyde in environmental matrices. Novel techniques used for the removal of metaldehyde DOI: 10.1039/c7ew00039a from drinking water are presented together with potential catchment management strategies and initiatives rsc.li/es-water useful for the mitigation of this molluscicide in the environment. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. Water impact Metaldehyde is a potent molluscicide and is applied to land as baited-pellets. Due to its physicochemical properties, metaldehyde runs off readily from fields and enters surface water bodies where often it can be present at drinking water capitation sites at elevated concentrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Clh Report for Metaldehyde
    CLH REPORT FOR METALDEHYDE CLH report Proposal for Harmonised Classification and Labelling Based on Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation), Annex VI, Part 2 Substance Name: Metaldehyde EC Number: 203-600-2 CAS Number: 108-62-3 Index Number: 605-005-00-7 Contact details for dossier submitter: Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) Institute for Plant Protection Products Evaluation and Authorisation Spargelfeldstraße 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria Version number: 02 Date: 30.01.2012 1 CLH REPORT FOR METALDEHYDE 2 CLH REPORT FOR METALDEHYDE CONTENTS Part A. 1 PROPOSAL FOR HARMONISED CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING .................................................7 1.1 SUBSTANCE ......................................................................................................................................................7 1.2 HARMONISED CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING PROPOSAL .............................................................................7 1.3 PROPOSED HARMONISED CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING BASED ON CLP REGULATION AND /OR DSD CRITERIA .........................................................................................................................................................................8 2 BACKGROUND TO THE CLH PROPOSAL ................................................................................................... 13 2.1 HISTORY OF THE PREVIOUS CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING........................................................................ 13 2.2 SHORT SUMMARY OF THE SCIENTIFIC JUSTIFICATION
    [Show full text]
  • The Molecular Basis for the Biotic Degradation of Metaldehyde
    The molecular basis for the biotic degradation of metaldehyde John Christopher Thomas PhD University of York Biology September 2016 Abstract Metaldehyde is a molluscicide that is used to prevent crop damage by slugs and snails. It is frequently found in drinking water sources at concentrations above the legal maximum, and causes >90% of water quality failures in England. There is currently no economical, widely used treatment to remove metaldehyde pollution from water. Prior to the work presented here, it was known that metaldehyde is degraded biotically in soil, but the nature and identity of organisms responsible was unknown. Two novel metaldehyde degrading bacterial strains were isolated from domestic soil that can utilise metaldehyde as a sole carbon and energy source; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus E1 and Variovorax E3. Evidence that acetaldehyde is the primary metabolite of metaldehyde is presented: the metaldehyde dependent expression of an aldehyde dehydrogenase in A. calcoaceticus E1 was found, and the maximum metabolic flux of acetaldehyde was found to be greater than that of metaldehyde in cells grown using metaldehyde. The genomes of the isolated organisms were acquired. Comparative genomics of the two isolates showed that their novel catalytic ability was not dependent on genes shared between them, despite being isolated from the same soil sample. Comparison of the A. calcoaceticus E1 genome against other Acinetobacter that cannot utilise metaldehyde yielded a strong candidate for the primary metaldehyde degrading enzyme that has characteristics consistent with an enzyme that catalysed ether hydrolysis of isochorismate in its ancestral form and has evolved to hydrolyse ether bonds in metaldehyde. 2 Table of contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Metaldehyde CAS #: 108-62-3
    Review Date: 10/20/2010 metaldehyde CAS #: 108-62-3 Type molluscicide Controls Controls slugs and snails. Mode of Action Causes slugs and snails to produce too much mucus which eventually causes their death. Thurston County Review Summary: Pesticide products containing metaldehyde as an active ingredient fail the Thurston County review criteria. Metaldehyde is rated as high in hazard for mobility (potential to move off the site of application), persistence, and for potential toxicity to domestic animals and wildlife. It is also rated high in hazard for the potential exposures to children in treated areas. MOBILITY Property Value Reference Rating Solubility (mg/L) 222 1 Moderate Soil Sorption (Kd=mL/g) <1 4 High Organic Sorption (Koc=mL/g) 84.8 4 High Mobility Summary: Metaldehyde is somewhat soluble in water and does not adhere well to soil with or without organic material. The hazard of metaldehyde moving off the site of application with rain or irrigation water is rated high. PERSISTENCE Property Value Reference Rating Vapor Pressure (mm Hg) 0.000011 1 Moderate Biotic or Aerobic Half-life (days) 67 1 High Abiotic Half-life (days) Stable 2 High Terrestrial Field Test Half-life (days) About 2 months 2 High Hydrolysis Half-life (days) Stable 4 High Anaerobic Half-life (days) >200 4 High Aquatic Field Test Half-life (days) Not found Persistence Summary: The major route of dissipation for metaldehyde is metabolic breakdown in the upper soil column (top 18 inches of soil). There are a number of published reports that provide information on how quickly metaldehyde breaks down, unfortunately, the values cover a broad range of time.
    [Show full text]
  • Direct Analysis and Quantification of Metaldehyde In
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Direct Analysis and Quantification of Metaldehyde in Water using Reactive Paper Spray Mass Received: 07 April 2016 Accepted: 30 September 2016 Spectrometry Published: 21 October 2016 Simon Maher1, Fred P. M. Jjunju1, Deidre E. Damon2, Hannah Gorton3, Yosef S. Maher2, Safaraz U. Syed4, Ron M. A. Heeren4, Iain S. Young5, Stephen Taylor1 & Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah2 Metaldehyde is extensively used worldwide as a contact and systemic molluscicide for controlling slugs and snails in a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. Contamination of surface waters due to run-off, coupled with its moderate solubility in water, has led to increased concentration of the pesticide in the environment. In this study, for the first time, rapid analysis <( ~1 minute) of metaldehyde residues in water is demonstrated using paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS). The observed precursor molecular ions of metaldehyde were confirmed from tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments by studying the fragmentation patterns produced via collision-induced dissociation. The signal intensity ratios of the most abundant MS/MS transitions for metaldehyde (177 → 149 for protonated ion) and atrazine (221 → 179) were found to be linear in the range 0.01 to 5 ng/mL. Metaldehyde residues were detectable in environmental water samples at low concentration (LOD < 0.1 ng/mL using reactive PS- MS), with a relative standard deviation <10% and an R2 value >0.99, without any pre-concentration/ separation steps. This result is of particular importance for environmental monitoring and water quality analysis providing a potential means of rapid screening to ensure safe drinking water.
    [Show full text]