PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD - 1984
Sponsored jointly by FAO and WHO
EVALUATIONS 1984
The monographs
Data and recommendations of the joint meeting
of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues
in Food and the Environment and the
WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues
Rome, 24 September - 3 October 1984
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 1985
DEMETON-S-METHYL AND RELATED COMPOUNDS
(Demeton-S-methyl, Oxydemeton-methyl and Demeton-S-methyl sulphone)
Explanation
Demeton-S-methyl, oxydemeton-methyl (or demeton-S-methyl
sulfoxide) and demeton-S-methyl sulfone were reviewed at several
previous meetings (FAO/WHO, 1965b, 1968b, 1969b, 1974b, 1979, 1982 and
1983). An ADI, based primarily on short-term studies, was established
in 1965b and was re-affirmed in 1968b. In 1969b, the meeting
determined that available toxicological studies had not been performed
on a single defined test compound and that materials used in
agricultural practice could not be precisely defined. In view of these
concerns and the lack of long-term toxicological studies, the ADI was
withdrawn in 1969b and additional information, including longterm
studies in two species, was required to be submitted. In 1974b, an ADI
was re-established on the basis of newly submitted long term studies
on rats and dogs and a teratology study on rabbits. A comprehensive
and cumulative Monograph on demeton-S-methyl and related compounds was
presented in the 1974b report. In 1982, the ADI was again withdrawn
because the rat and dog long-term studies and the rabbit teratology
study were found to have been conducted in a laboratory where
unacceptable laboratory standards and practices had been determined to
exist. Although the dog study was validated by Canadian and US-EPA
authorities, the rat and rabbit studies were determined to be invalid.
A series of toxicological studies on demeton-S-methyl,
oxydemeton-methyl and demeton-S-methyl sulfone were presented to the
JMPR for consideration in 1983. These studies were not reviewed in
1983. Since then, additional toxicological studies on oxydemeton-
methyl have been submitted. All of the studies submitted for
evaluation in 1983 and 1984 are reviewed in this Monograph Addendum.
It has been convenient to consider the studies on each compound
separately.