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Demeton

      PESTICIDE NAME: Demeton
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      Trade name(s): Systox
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      Manufacturer(s): Mobay Chemical Corporation
                       Agricultural Chemicals Division
                       P.O. Box 4913
                       Kansas City, MO.   64120
      I.  Basic information
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          A. Molecular structure: C8H19O3PS2
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          B. Chemical name: mixture of: 0,0-diethyl-0-[2-
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      2(ethylthio)ethyl]phosphorothioate and
      0,0-diethyl-S[2(ethylthio)ethyl]phosphorothioate   N.B.:For the
      purposes of the remainder of this discussion, the first component will
      be denoted "O" and the second "S".
          C. Derivatives: 0,0-dimethyl S-(2-ethyl-
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      sulfinylethyl)phosphorothioate
              2-(ethylsulfinyl)ethanethiol
              2-(ethylsulfonyl)ethanethiol
              bis[2-(ethylsulfinyl)-ethyl]disulfide
              bis[2-(ethylsulfonyl)-ethyl]disulfide
              bis[2-(ethylsulfinyl)-ethyl]sulfide
              bis[2-(ethylsulfonyl)-ethyl]sulfide
           D. Molecular weight: 258.3 g/mole
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           E. Solubility in water: O:60 mg/l; S:2000mg/l
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           F. Common physical appearance: light brown liquid
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           G. Oral LD50(rat): 2-4 mg/kg
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           H. Pesticide classification: organophosphate insecticide
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           I. Restricted use list (N.Y.): yes
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              EPA priority pesticide list: no
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           J. Crop use: beans, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli,
      Brussels sprouts, cucurbits, lettuce, endive, escarole, peas, peppers,
      eggplant, tomato
      II.  Text
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           Demeton is an organophosphate insecticide used on a variety of
      vegetable crops but not widely treated in the scientific literature.
      It appears to be rapidly degraded to its metabolites.  No information
      was available concerning adsorption and transport.
      III.  Soils information
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            A.  Degradation and transformation
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           The literature does not contain extensive information on
      degradation/transformation or adsorption/transport of demeton.  One
      study found that demeton was 65-98% (av = 86.1%) degraded 14d after
      application.  The variability depended upon the microorganisms present
      in the soil.  The sulfoxide was transformed to metabolites rather than
      being mineralized(2).
           B.  Adsorption and transport
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           No information was available concerning adsorption and transport
      of demeton.
      IV.  References(*denotes key reference)
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       1.Kuhr, R.J., A.C. Davis, and J.B. Bourke. 1974.
          Bull.Environ.Contam. Toxicol. 11:3 224-30.
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      *2.Ziegler, W., G. Engelhardt, P.R. Wallnofer, L. Oehlmann, and K.
          Wagner.     1980.  J.Agric.Food Chem. 28. 1102-6.
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