A case is presented of a fatal ingestion of Furadan (carbofuran), a cholinesterase-inhibiting carbamate insecticide. A 26-year-old white male was found dead with a partially filled 1-gal (3.8-L) container of Furadan 4F insecticide-nematocide (44.9% carbofuran). The individual had ingested approximately 345 mL of the mixture. Analysis of cholinesterase activity in various biological fluids was performed spectrophotometrically using propionylthiocholine and 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid [Sigma Diagnostics, cholinesterase procedure No. 422 (PTC)] which was measured at 405 nm and 30°C in a Gilford Stasar III Spectrophotometer. The cholinesterase activities were as follows: plasma, 245 units (U)/L (93% inhibition/7% normal activity); serum, 208 U/L (95.3% inhibition/4.7% normal activity); whole blood, 297 U/L (92.8% inhibition/7.2% normal activity); erythrocytes, 58 U/L (99% inhibition/1% normal activity); vitreous humor, 7 U/L; and bile, 148 U/L. Carbofuran was detected in the blood and gastric contents by thin-layer chromatography. No alcohol or other drugs were detected in the blood, urine, or gastric contents. Ingestion of the carbofuran produced acute visceral congestion and pulmonary edema. Death was caused by anoxia due to respiratory paralysis produced by cholinesterase inhibition from Furadan (carbofuran) ingestion.

Based on the study of available literature in this thesis are defined easily accessible poisons, which are carbofuran, methanol, ethylene glycol, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. The thesis is further defined by crime, with those readily available poisons committed on the territory of the Czech Republic. Defined easily accessible poisons were also associated with a particular crime that is committed to them and based on statistical outputs of the Czech Police and the National Drug Headquarters of the Police of the Czech Republic was conducted statistical research that is readily available to these poisons committing a crime on the territory of the Czech Republic, and whether there are differences in crime rates between different regions of the Czech Republic. The second part describes the methodology of work and research questions. The third part consists of the results which graphically compares crime committed with easily accessible poisons. The final part consists of discussions, where they are analyzed the achievements of work. To achieve the objectives in this work used data collection methods, analytical, mathematical and graphical. While writing this thesis I first considered studying literature in easily accessible poisons and study applicable laws, which serve as the legal basis for the definition of crimes. When I was writing a thesis based on research questions: They are easily accessible poisons available in the Czech Republic? There in the CR crime committed using readily available poisons? There are differences between individual regions in the Czech Republic? These research questions were answered by meeting our goals, namely the Czech Republic are readily available poisons available with them commit crime in the crimes committed there are differences between individual regions.

Submitted by ANA KARLA PEREIRA RODRIGUES (anakarla_@hotmail.com) on 2017-08-07T13:46:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2969105 bytes, checksum: 49f5cf66f2a78db52f94fecddc4c5be1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T13:46:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2969105 bytes, checksum: 49f5cf66f2a78db52f94fecddc4c5be1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Carbofuran (2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7yl-methylcarbamate) is a kind of pesticide with nematicide and acaricide power, belonging to the chemical group of benzofuranyl methylcarbamate; methomyl {(R, S)-methyl-N- {[(methylamino) carbonyl] oxy} ethanimidothioate} is also a pesticide with acaricide power, it is inserted into the methylcarbamate oxime chemical group. They present high toxicity, and both are inserted in class I of toxicity and class II of environmental risks. In general, their detection and analytical determinations are carried with chromatographic methods, electrophoretic, fluorometric, spectrophotometric fluorescence X-rays and electroanalytical. In this study, one has made use of boron-doped diamond electrode due to its inherent properties: wide potential range and low adsorption of organic molecules. Thus, one has studied the electrochemical behavior of carbofuran and methomyl using cyclic voltammetry, square-wave voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, being developed methodologies for simultaneous studies by SWV and DPV. Throughout the pH analysis by SWV technique, one observed oxidation process of carbofuran (Ep1 ≈ + 1.3 V vs. EAg/AgCl) and the same process for the methomyl (Ep1 ≈ + 1.6 V vs. EAg/AgCl) in DDB cathodically polarized. A simultaneous methodology using SWV was developed, being the best analytical conditions: pH 1.0 (sulfuric ac. 0.1 mol L-1), f = 150 s-1, ΔEs = 4 mV, ΔEp = 30 mV, td = 10 s, obtaining a linear range of 2.5 x 10-6 to 7.9 x 10-5 mol L-1. Also, an alternative methodology has been developed with the DPV technique. The best VPD analysis conditions that provided the most sensitive voltammetric response were: pH 1.0 (sulfuric ac. 0.1 mol L-1), TI = 0.2, ΔEs = 4 mV, ΔEp = 50 mV, td = 10s, with a linear range of 2.48 x 10-4 to 1.42 x 10-4 mol L-1. This work shows that the two proposed methodologies are feasible. Keywords: methomyl, carbofuran, boron-doped diamond electrodes, voltammetry. / O carbofurano (metilcarbamato de 2,3-hidro-2,2-dimetilbenzofuran-7ila) é um pesticida com ação nematicida e acaricida pertencente ao grupo químico metilcarbamato de benzofuranila, e o metomil [(R, S)-metil-N-(metilcarbamoiloxi) tiocetimidato] é um inseticida e acaricida inserido no grupo químico metilcarbamato de oxima. Possuem alta toxicidade, tendo ambos: classe toxicológica I e classe ambiental II. Em geral, suas detecções e determinações analítica envolvem métodos cromatográficos, eletroforéticos, fluorimétricos, espectrofotométricos com fluorescência de raios-X e eletroanalíticos. Neste estudo se fez uso de um eletrodo de diamante dopado com boro devido às suas propriedades intrínsecas: ampla janela de potencial e baixa adsorção de moléculas orgânicas. Assim, foi estudado o comportamento eletroquímico de carbofurano e metomil usando voltametria cíclica, voltametria de onda quadrada e voltametria de pulso diferencial, sendo desenvolvido metodologias para estudos simultâneo por VOQ e VPD. Através do estudo de pH, realizado pela técnica VOQ, observou-se a oxidação do carbofurano (Ep1 ≈ + 1,3 V vs. EAg/AgCl) e a oxidação do metomil (Ep1 ≈ + 1,6 V vs. EAg/AgCl) em EDDB catódicamente polarizado. Uma metodologia simultânea empregando VOQ foi desenvolvida, sendo as melhores condições de análise: pH 1,0 (ácido sulfúrico 0,1 mol L-1), f = 150 s-1, ΔEs = 4 mV, ΔEp = 30 mV, td = 10 s, obtendo uma faixa linear de 2,5 x 10-6 a 7,9 x 10-5 mol L-1. Também foi desenvolvida uma metodologia alternativa com a técnica de VPD. As melhores condições de análise da VPD que proporcionaram a resposta voltamétrica mais sensível foram: pH 1,0 (ácido sulfúrico 0,1 mol L-1), IT = 0,2 s, ΔEs = 4 mV, ΔEp = 50 mV, td = 10 s, apresentando uma faixa linear 2,48 x 10-4 a 1,42 × 10-4 mol L-1. Os estudos mostram que as duas metodologias propostas são viáveis.

The increased use of pesticides has resulted in a corresponding increase in concern for the effect they may have on the health of humans and other non-target organisms. The two main areas of concern are the toxicological effects that mixtures of pesticides may have as well as the endocrine disrupting effects. Although the individual pesticides may be present at concentrations below the levels deemed to be detrimental to health, it has been argued that their combined effect may still result in elevated health risks. Another important aspect of pesticide risk assessment requires a consideration of the breakdown products of pesticides and their effect on human health. There has been very little research into the effects of degradation products and this issue should be addressed as these could potentially pose a higher risk than their parent compounds. One of the most important bio-markers available for use is the ubiquitous enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This enzyme is responsible for one of the most important functions in the body; namely nerve impulse transmission, upon which all life depends. The inhibition of this enzyme indicates toxicity and as a subsequence, a threat to the organism’s well-being. Bioassays have also recently been developed to test chemicals for endocrine disrupting effects. These tests rely on a dose response equivalent to that of the most potent well known estrogen 17-β estradiol. Any chemical that has a measurable response is deemed to display endocrine disrupting effects. This first aim of this study was to investigate the toxicological and endocrine disrupting effects of three organophosphorus pesticides; aldicarb, parathion and demeton-S-methyl, in addition to two breakdown products; aminophenol and p-nitrophenol. Two carbamate pesticides; carbaryl and carbofuran were also analysed. The toxicological effects of mixtures of the parent pesticide compounds were tested to assess if any antagonistic, additive or synergistic effects were observed. This data was then used in conjunction with an artificial neural network to assess if individual pesticides could be distinguished from mixtures of pesticides. A final objective was to sample various Eastern Cape water sources, utilising the enzymatic assay to determine the presence of any of these pesticides in these samples. There were several conclusions drawn from this study. AChE was successfully used as an assay to test the toxicity of the pesticides under investigation, based on their inhibition of this enzyme. An important factor for consideration throughout the study was the need to establish basal and monitor AChE activity (i.e. the need to monitor AChE activity in the absence of any pesticide). This ensured accurate comparison of the results obtained. It was found that demeton-S-methyl was the most potent of these pesticides followed by carbaryl, parathion, aldicarb and finally carbofuran, and that carbofuran could potentiate AChE. The results indicated that pesticide mixtures generally exhibited an additive inhibitory effect on AChE, although at some concentrations of pesticides, synergistic and antagonistic effects were noted. From the data using mixtures of pesticides, a feed forward neural network was created that was successfully able to distinguish individual pesticides from mixtures within its training parameters. None of the pesticides tested displayed endocrine disrupting properties in the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES), T47D-KBluc and MDA-kb2 bio-assays. Other studies reported mixed results in this regard and thus no final conclusions could be drawn. The Blaauwkrantz River, Kariega River, Sundays River, Swartkops River and Kowie River were all tested for pesticides and although positive results were recorded, conventional methods indicated that there were no pesticides in the rivers. There were, however, trace metals present which are known to inhibit AChE, thus causing a false positive result. These results indicated that AChE can be used as a high throughput initial pre-screening tool, but that it cannot serve as a substitute for more accurate conventional testing methods.