VACOR

Description

Pyriminil was used formerly as a rodenticide in products such as DLP 787 as a 10% house mouse tracking powder or Vacor. It is now banned in the United States and Europe for use as a rodenticide and is listed as an extremely hazardous substance by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Toxic effects of pyriminil include neurotoxicity and pancreatic beta-cell death, which, if not immediately lethal, will lead to prolonged autonomic dysfunction and permanent insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in most species, including humans.

Chemical properties

Pyriminil is a yellow crystalline solid, resem- bling corn meal.

The Uses of VACOR

Rodenticide.

The Uses of VACOR

Pyriminil was used as a rodenticide in the United States to control rats and house mice since the 1920s. It is especially effective against rodents resistant to anticoagulant poisons. Pyriminil was marketed for indoor use only in the form of bait and tracking powder. However, commercial distribution was voluntarily withdrawn in 1975 in the United States after many severe human poisonings and suicides. In contrast, pyriminil was introduced to British market much later (in 1980).

General Description

Yellow, resembling corn meal. Used as a single-dose, acute rodenticide. Not registered as a pesticide in the U.S.

Reactivity Profile

A nitrated amine and amide. Amines are chemical bases. They neutralize acids to form salts plus water. These acid-base reactions are exothermic. The amount of heat that is evolved per mole of amine in a neutralization is largely independent of the strength of the amine as a base. Amines may be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated by amines in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides. Organic amides/imides react with azo and diazo compounds to generate toxic gases. Flammable gases are formed by the reaction of organic amides/imides with strong reducing agents. Amides are very weak bases (weaker than water). Imides are less basic yet and in fact react with strong bases to form salts. That is, they can react as acids. Mixing amides with dehydrating agents such as P2O5 or SOCl2 generates the corresponding nitrile. The combustion of these compounds generates mixed oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

Health Hazard

VACOR may cause death by cardiovascular collapse and respiratory failure. It may cause diabetes. Also it affects the central nervous system. Human survivors regularly develop an insulin-deficient, ketosis-prone form of diabetes millitus.

Safety Profile

Human poison by ingestion. Human systemic effects: altered sleep time, blood pressure lowering, change in motor activity, dabetes mektus, dstorted perceptions, dyspnea, hallucinations, hyperglycemia, somnolence, structural change in nerve or sheath. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.

Potential Exposure

A potential danger to those involved in the application of this single-dose, acute rodenticide. No longer registered, produced or used in the United States There are more than 20 global suppliers .

Environmental Fate

If released into air, soil, or water, pyriminil is unlikely to volatilize and is instead expected to be bound to particulates based on a low vapor pressure (3.39 × 10^-9 mm Hg) and low Henry’s Law constant (1.84 × 10^-16 atm-m3 mol^-1). The pKa value for pyriminil is 3.5 for the conjugate acid of nitrogen in the pyridine ring, while the pKa is 7.6 for the benzyl amide. Based on these pKa values, pyriminil is predicted to be in the uncharged form under most environmental conditions. The Kow of pyriminil is 2.09 and the water solubility is high (4.81 × 102 mg l^-1), which predicts that it will readily dissolve in water and disperse in aquatic media. However, pyriminil will also sorb to suspended particulates and has some potential to bioconcentrate (bioconcentration factor ? 8).

Toxicity evaluation

Acute pyriminil toxicity occurs primarily because it inhibits NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity of complex I in mammalian mitochondria, resulting in preferential toxicity to high-energy-demanding cells such as nerves and pancreatic beta cells. However, pyriminil may also act as a nicotinamide antagonist and interfere with the synthesis of NADH/NADPH, furthering neural and beta-cell toxicity. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in nerves causes somatic, autonomic, and central nervous system neuropathies. Furthermore, inhibition of beta-cell respiration is suggested to cause increased expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase, which is considered to be a major autoantigen driving development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Pyriminil also acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor of rat acetylcholinesterase.

Incompatibilities

A nitrated amine. Amines are combustible. Azo, diazo, azido compounds can detonate. This applies in particular to organic azides that have been sensitized by the addition of metal salts or strong acids. Toxic gases are formed by mixing materials of this class with acids, aldehydes, amides, carbamates, cyanides, inorganic fluorides, halogenated organics, isocyanates, ketones, metals, nitrides, peroxides, phenols, epoxides, acyl halides, and strong oxidizing or reducing agents. Flammable gases are formed by mixing materials in this group with alkali metals. Explosive combination can occur with strong oxidizing agents, metal salts, peroxides, and sulfides.