Metabolism of carbosulfan [2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl (di-n-butylaminothio)methylcarbamate] in the rat and house fly

The metabolism of carbosulfan, 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl (di-n-butylaminothio)-methylcarbamate, was studied in the rat and house fly. Carbosulfan was metabolized via at least two major pathways in the rat, by initial oxidation of the sulfur atom and by NS bond cleavage. The principal rat metabolites were the conjugated keto-phenol from the ring-labeled carbo-sulfan, carbon dioxide from the carbonyl-labeled carbosulfan, and dibutylamine from the dibutylamino-labeled carbosulfan. In house flies, carbosulfan was converted primarily into carbofuran and related oxidation products. The lower mammalian toxicity of carbosulfan compared to its insecticidal activity is explained on the basis of differences in routes and rates of metabolism of carbosulfan in mammals and insects.