Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Thiabendazole

General Information

• Product Names:
  Mertect (Syngenta)
  Tecto (Syngenta)
  Maxim Quattro (Syngenta) formulated with Fludioxonil, Metalaxyl-M, and Azoxystrobin
  Gustafson LSP (Bayer)
  Deecozole A (Decco)
  Freshgard 598 (John Bean Technologies)
  Metasol (Lanxess)
  Preventol (Lanxess) formulated with Azoxystrobin
  Sporgard (Lanxess) formulated with Fludioxonil and Azoxystrobin
  Irgauard (BASF)
  Stay-Clean (Walla Walla Environmental)
  Shield-Brite (Pace)
  Krud Kutter MC-2 (Krud Kutter)

• Chemical Class: Benzimidazole fungicide
• Uses: Potato, sweet potato, soybean, wheat, mushrooms, citrus fruits, apples, pears, bananas, mango, papaya, plantain, carrots, avocados, peas, and ornamental bulbs
• Alternatives: Organic agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Yes (8)
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (8)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/Developmental: Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed 10/2002
• Supporting information:
  • PAN Pesticides Database: Thiabendazole (Pesticide Action Network)
• Studies:
• Respiratory and allergic outcomes among 5-year-old children exposed to pesticides. Islam, J.Y. et al. (2023) Respiratory and allergic outcomes among 5-year-old children exposed to pesticides, Thorax. Available at: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/1/41.abstract.