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Dimethoate

General Information

• Dimethoate product names
• Chemical Class: organophosphate insecticide
• Uses: alfalfa, asparagus, beans , broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, cherries, Christmas tree farms, conifer seed farms, cotton, endive, field corn, grass grown for seed, herbaceous ornamentals in commercial nurseries or greenhouses, grapefruit, leaf lettuce (except head lettuce), lemons, lentils, kale, melons, mustard greens, oranges, pears, peas, pecans, peppers, popcorn, potatoes, safflower, sorghum, soybeans, Swiss chard, tangerines, tangelos, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, wheat, cottonwood grown for pulp, and woody ornamentals in commercial nurseries or greenhouses
• Alternatives: Agriculture, non-agricultural and forestry (including Christmas trees)
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: II (moderately toxic)
• Cancer: Possible (10)
• Endocrine Disruption: Suspected (PAN)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (33)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (4)
• Kidney/ Liver Damage: Yes (14)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: No (8)
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Yes (14)

Environmental Effects

• Detected in Groundwater: Possible (33)
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Yes (4)
• Toxic to Birds: Yes (8, 4)
• Toxic to Fish/ Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8, 4)
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (8, 4)
• Toxic to Mammals: Yes (8)
• Long-Range Transport: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Revised Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (iRED) (8/2007)
• Supporting information:
  • Daily News Blog entries (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Extoxnet Dimethoate Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticides Database:Dimethoate (Pesticide Action Network)
  • Scorecard Dimethoate Factsheet (Environmental Defense Fund)
  • CAT Dimethoate Toxicological Profile (Californians for Alternatives to Toxics)
• Key Studies:
  • Top 15 Farmworker Poison