The measurement of ethylenethiourea and ethyleneurea in the rat and common marmoset Callithrix jacchus after zineb (zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate) dosing

Abstract

1. The metabolism of the fungicide zineb, (zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate), has been studied in the rat and the marmoset.

2. It was found in both species that a relatively large proportion (21–22%) of the original zineb administered was detectable in the excreta as ethylenethiourea (ETU) a known mutagen, teratogen and carcinogen.

3. A further proportion (2–5%) was determined to be ethyleneurea which is a metabolite of ETU.

4. Results of comparative experiments in marmosets revealed that ETU was photolabile in the presence of excreta, thus showing the importance of conducting the studies in the dark.