The fungicide is used to control plant diseases in cereals and fruits, including citrus, bananas, strawberries, macadamia nuts, pineapples, and pomes.[3] A 4.7% solution of carbendazim hydrochloride, sold as Eertavas, is marketed as a treatment for Dutch elm disease.[4]
Other uses
It is also employed as a casting worm control agent in amenity turf situations such as golf greens, tennis courts etc. and in some countries is licensed for that use only.[5]
Safety, regulation, controversy
High doses of carbendazim destroy the testicles of laboratory animals.[6][7]
Maximum pesticide residue limits (MRLs) for fresh produce in the EU are between 0.1 and 0.7 mg/kg with the exception of loquat fruits, which is set at 2 mg/kg.[8] The limits for more commonly consumed citrus and pome fruits are between 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg.
Use of this fungicide on macadamia plantations has proven controversial in Queensland.[4]
^Aire, TA (August 2005). "Short-term effects of carbendazim on the gross and microscopic features of the testes of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)". Anatomy and Embryology. 210 (1): 43–9. doi:10.1007/s00429-005-0001-0. PMID16034611. S2CID8526462.
