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Methamidophos

General Information

• Chemical Class: Organophosphate insecticide
• Uses: cotton, potato, tomato and alfalfa grown for seed for broad spectrum insect control, including aphid, Colorado potato beetle, green peach aphid, leafhopper, leafminer, lygus bug, stink bug, tomato pinworm and whitefly. Also used on peppers, strawberries, and squash grown in other countries and imported into the U.S.
• Alternatives: Organic Agriculture
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health Effects

• EPA Acute Toxicity Class: I (highly toxic)
• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (4)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (4)
• Kidney/ Liver Damage: Yes (4)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (8)
• Birth/ Developmental Defects: Not documented

Environmental Effects

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

Additional Information

• Regulatory Information:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) (7/2006)
• Supporting information:
  • Extoxnet Methamidophos Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticides Database - Methamidophos (Pesticide Action Network)
• Key Studies:
  • Top 15 Farmworker Poison