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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for Guthion. It is 

one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and their health effects. A shorter 

version, the ToxFAQsTM, is also available. This information is important because this substance may 

harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you 

are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For more information, 

call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. 

This public health statement tells you about guthion and the effects of exposure to it. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in the 

nation. These sites are then placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for long-term 

federal clean-up activities. Guthion has been found in at least 5 of the 1,699 current or former NPL sites. 

Although the total number of NPL sites evaluated for this substance is not known, the possibility exists 

that the number of sites at which guthion is found may increase in the future as more sites are evaluated. 

This information is important because these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure to guthion 

may be harmful. 

When a substance is released either from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, 

such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. Such a release does not always lead to exposure. You 

can be exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it. You may be exposed by breathing, 

eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin contact. 

If you are exposed to guthion, many factors will determine whether you will be harmed. These factors 

include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in contact with it. You must 

also consider any other chemicals you are exposed to and your age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and 

state of health. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.1 WHAT IS GUTHION?
 

Description Guthion is the common name of an organophosphorus insecticide. It is a 

formulation that includes the active ingredient of azinphos-methyl. 

Guthion does not occur naturally in the environment. 

Pure guthion is a colorless to white odorless crystalline solid. Technicalgrade guthion is a cream to yellow-brown granular solid. 

Uses 

• Pesticide uses Guthion is used to control pest insects on many crops, especially apples, 

pears, cherries, peaches, almonds, and pistachios. 

Many uses of guthion have been cancelled by the EPA and its few 

remaining uses are being phased out. 

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO GUTHION WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT? 

Sources Guthion is primarily released to air from its use as an insecticide. Guthion is 

sprayed on crops primarily using ground-based spray equipment, although it 

can also be sprayed on crops from light-weight planes and helicopters. 

Although a large part of the spray lands directly on the crop, some of the 

smaller droplets that make up the spray can be carried away from the crop by 

the wind to nearby water bodies and soils. 

Guthion residues may also reach nearby rivers, streams, lakes, or ponds by 

water runoff and erosion that occurs during rainfall. 

Manufacturing facilities that produce guthion can also release it to the 

environment during the production process. 

How guthion Guthion is not very persistent in the environment. 

breaks down 

Guthion is degraded to many other compounds by microorganisms found in 

soil and water. It is also degraded by sunlight and by reacting with water. 

Guthion does not evaporate very quickly from soil and water. It attaches 

strongly to soil surfaces and does not easily move into groundwater below the 

soil surface. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO GUTHION?
 

Food—primary You are primarily exposed to guthion by ingesting foods treated with this 

source of pesticide. Apples, pears, peaches, and cherries are crops most likely to 

exposure contain guthion residues, but fewer residues are being found as guthion use 

in agriculture has been diminishing. 

Air You may be exposed to guthion in air in areas close to fruit orchards or other 

crops where guthion is used. 

Workplace People who work in agricultural jobs such as pesticide applicators, fruit 

pickers, and other farm workers can be exposed to higher levels of guthion 

than the average individual, probably by skin contact with the insecticide and 

by inhalation. 

Families of workers can also be exposed because residues on workers’ 

hands, clothes, vehicles, or other personal items can be brought into the 

home. 

Children Children playing on or near areas that have been treated with guthion may 

be exposed to guthion in soil by skin contact, when they accidentally or 

intentionally put soil into their mouths, and through hand-to-mouth activity. 

Children can also be exposed through food and drink. Since children have 

more fruit in their diets, their exposure to guthion may be higher than for 

adults on a body weight basis. 

1.4 HOW CAN GUTHION ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY?
 

Enter your body 

• Inhalation 

• Ingestion 

• Dermal contact 

If you breathe air containing guthion, you may absorb it into your body 

through the lungs. 

Most guthion in food or water can be absorbed from the digestive tract. 

Guthion may enter your body across the skin. 

Leave your body Once in the body, guthion is rapidly broken down and eliminated from the 

body mainly in the exhaled air, urine, and feces. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.5 HOW CAN GUTHION AFFECT MY HEALTH? 

This section looks at studies concerning potential health effects in animal and human studies. 

Human exposure Guthion affects the normal function of the nervous system by interfering with 

an important enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. Exposure to guthion can 

result in signs or symptoms of nervous system damage shortly after 

exposure. 

If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical attention 

immediately. Emergency rooms have drugs that stop the harmful effects of 

guthion. 

Laboratory Symptoms observed in animals exposed to high levels of guthion include 

animals excess saliva, watery eyes, and muscle twitching. 

It is likely that humans exposed to high levels of guthion will have similar 

effects. 

Cancer Guthion has not been shown to cause cancer in people or animals. 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the EPA, and the 

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have not classified the 

carcinogenic potential of guthion in humans. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.6 HOW CAN GUTHION AFFECT CHILDREN? 

This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from 

conception to maturity at 18 years of age. 

Effects in children We do not know whether children are more sensitive than adults to the 

health effects of guthion. The main target for guthion in adults is the 

nervous system, in particular acetylcholinesterase. It is expected that this 

will also be the main target in children. 

Birth defects We do not know if guthion can cause birth defects or other damage to 

developing children. 

Studies in animals have found decreases in fetal growth, nervous system 

damage, and reduced survival, but only at doses that also caused harmful 

health effects in the mothers. 

1.7 HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO GUTHION?
 

Wash fruits and To reduce the risk of exposure to guthion residue on fresh fruits or 

vegetables vegetables, wash the foods prior to eating them. 

If you go to an orchard and pick your own fruit, make sure you wash your 

hands when you are finished since guthion residues can be absorbed 

through the skin. 

Those who live in If you live near a farm where frequent ground or aerial spraying takes place, 

agricultural areas you may want to remain indoors with your children and pets while the crops 

are being sprayed to lessen your exposure. 

You should discourage your children from entering areas treated with 

guthion. Discourage your children from eating dirt and putting their hands in 

their mouth. Make certain your children wash their hands frequently, 

especially before eating. 

If children play in grass fields or orchards, any pesticides used in these 

areas could collect on clothing. Regular laundering of clothing can reduce 

the potential for this exposure. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.8 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO 

GUTHION? 

Measuring effects Guthion, like other organophosphorus pesticides, interferes in the human 

body with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. Most of the signs and 

symptoms resulting from guthion poisoning are due to this interference with 

acetylcholinesterase. 

A blood test that measures acetylcholinesterase in the red blood cells or a 

similar enzyme in plasma may be useful for detecting exposures to 

potentially harmful levels of guthion. 

Detecting 

exposure 

Because guthion changes to other compounds in the body quickly, it is 

difficult to directly analyze the amount of guthion in a person’s body. Three 

chemicals formed when guthion breaks down can be measured in the urine. 

However, these three compounds are not specific to guthion only, but may 

also indicate exposure to other organophosphorus pesticides. 

1.9 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The federal government develops regulations and recommendations to protect public health. Regulations 

can be enforced by law. The EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some federal agencies that develop regulations for toxic 

substances. Recommendations provide valuable guidelines to protect public health, but cannot be 

enforced by law. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National 

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations that develop 

recommendations for toxic substances. 

Regulations and recommendations can be expressed as “not-to-exceed” levels, that is, levels of a toxic 

substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not exceed a critical value that is usually based on levels that 

affect animals; they are then adjusted to levels that will help protect humans. Sometimes these not-toexceed levels differ among federal organizations because they used different exposure times (an 8-hour 

workday or a 24-hour day), different animal studies, or other factors. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Recommendations and regulations are also updated periodically as more information becomes available. 

For the most current information, check with the federal agency or organization that provides it. 

Some regulations and recommendations for guthion include the following: 

Food The EPA has set tolerances for residues of guthion in various raw food 

products of 0.2–5 parts of guthion per million parts of food (ppm). 

Workplace air OSHA set a legal limit of 0.2 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3

) guthion in 

air averaged over an 8-hour work day. 

NIOSH designated a limit of 10 mg/m3

 as a concentration that is 

immediately dangerous to life and health. 

1.10 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department, or contact ATSDR at the address and phone number below. 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics 

specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses that result from exposure to hazardous 

substances. 

Toxicological profiles are also available on-line at www.atsdr.cdc.gov and on CD-ROM. You may 

request a copy of the ATSDR ToxProfilesTM CD-ROM by calling the toll-free information and technical 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Guthion 

CAS # 86-50-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

assistance number at 1-800-CDCINFO (1-800-232-4636), by e-mail at cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or by writing 

to: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine 

 1600 Clifton Road NE 

 Mailstop F-32 

 Atlanta, GA 30333

 Fax: 1-770-488-4178
 

Organizations for-profit may request copies of final Toxicological Profiles from the following: 

National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 

5285 Port Royal Road

 Springfield, VA 22161

 Phone: 1-800-553-6847 or 1-703-605-6000

 Web site: http://www.ntis.gov/
 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov