FAO Meeting Report No. PL/1965/10/1
    WHO/Food Add./27.65

    EVALUATION OF THE TOXICITY OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD

    The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
    Joint Meeting of the FAO Committee on Pesticides in Agriculture and
    the WHO Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues, which met in Rome,
    15-22 March 19651

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
    World Health Organization
    1965

                
    1 Report of the second joint meeting of the FAO Committee on
    Pesticides in Agriculture and the WHO Expert Committee on Pesticide
    Residues, FAO Meeting Report No. PL/1965/10; WHO/Food Add./26.65

    NABAM

    Chemical name

           Disodium ethylene-1,2-bisdithiocarbamate

    Synonyms

           DSE, "Parzate"

    Empirical formula

           C4H6N2S4Na2

    Structural formula

    

    BIOLOGICAL DATA

    Acute toxicity

                                                                 
    Animal     Route    LD50 mg/kg    References
                        body-weight
                                                                 

    Rat        Oral         395       Blackwell-Smith et al., 1953

    Mouse      Oral         580       Kligman & Rosenweig, 1948
                                                                 


    Short-term studies

           Rat. When nabam was fed over a period of 9 days to 4 female
    weanling rats, increase in thyroid weight and thyroid hyperplasia was
    found at levels of 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm in the diet. A maximum
    no-effect level was not determined. The action on the thyroid was
    similar to that observed with thiouracil. In addition, feeding levels
    of 1500 and 2000 ppm affected the growth rate of the animals, although
    1000 ppm did not appear to do so (Seifter & Ehrich, 1948).

    Comments on experimental studies reported

           For nabam, as for most of the dithiocarbamates, short- and
    long-term studies in animals have been reported, but for all of them
    biochemical data are inadequate.

    EVALUATION

           The chemical nature of the residues of the dithiocarbamates in 
    or on the plant has not been ascertained. The compounds themselves 
    have effects on the thyroid, nervous system and blood in animals. In 
    the absence of information about their mode of action an acceptable 
    intake for man cannot be estimated.

    Further work required

           Determination and evaluation of toxicity of the residues
    occurring in the plant. Extension of the long-term studies including
    reproduction studies which should concern at least 2 species. Special
    attention should be given to neurological changes, goitrogenicity and
    occurrence of anaemia.

    REFERENCES

    Blackwell-Smith, R., jr, Finnegan, J. K., Larson, P. S., Sahyoun, P.
    F., Dreyfus, M. L. & Haag, H. B. (1953) J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.,
    109, 159

    Kligman, A. M. & Rosenweig, W. (1948) J. Invest. Dermatology, 10,
    59

    Seifter, J. & Ehrich, W. E. (1948) J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther., 92,
    303
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Nabam (FAO/PL:1967/M/11/1)