Phytocontrol analyses dithiocarbamates in water

Phytocontrol has developed a method for characterising and quantifying dithiocarbamates by LC-MS/MS by family (DMD, EBD and PBD) and some of their metabolites (Ethylenethiourea, Ethyleneurea and Propylenethiourea) in fresh water.

Dithiocarbamates (DTC) are a family of pesticides comprising numerous active substances. Some of these active substances still have authorised uses in France, particularly as fungicides in agriculture. They can be found through soil leaching in surface water, raw water, or borehole and network water.

Dithiocarbamates pose a threat to water pollution and, ultimately, to humans.

Maneb, mancozeb, propineb, thiram, ziram, zineb… which family do they belong to?

These pesticides are divided into 3 families: DMD, EBD, and PBD.

• Methyl group (DMD for dimethyldithiocarbamates), which includes thiram, ziram, metam.
• Ethyl group (EBD for ethylenebisdithiocarbamates), which includes maneb, zineb, mancozeb.
• Propyl group (PBD for propylenebisdithiocarbamates), which includes propineb.

What is the regulation for dithiocarbamates in water?

Drinking water:

The Order of 11 January 2007 and its amendments set the quality limits and reference values for raw water and water intended for human consumption.

The quality limits for individual dithiocarbamates are as follows:

• 0.1 µg/L in drinking water and type A1 and A2 surface water.
• 2 µg/L in raw water and type A3 surface water.

Spring water:

The Order of 14 March 2007 on the quality criteria for packaged water, treatments and specific labelling requirements for packaged natural mineral water and spring water, as well as natural mineral water distributed in public drinking fountains, sets quality limits for pesticides.

The quality limit for individual dithiocarbamates is set at 0.1 µg/L in spring water and packaged water made potable through treatment.

Phytocontrol Waters supports you in the analysis of dithiocarbamates in water with a fast and reliable method. Dithiocarbamates have been analysed by Phytocontrol Agrifood for several years to determine whether the presence of CS2 is of endogenous (naturally occurring in the matrix) or exogenous (resulting from a plant protection treatment) origin, thanks to an innovative R&D department that has found a solution to this issue.

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