A Review of Environmental Occurrence, Fate, Exposure, and Toxicity of Benzothiazoles

Abstract

Benzothiazole and its derivatives (BTs) are high production volume chemicals that have been used for several decades in a large number of industrial and consumer products, including vulcanization accelerators, corrosion inhibitors, fungicides, herbicides, algicides, and ultraviolet (UV) light stabilizers. Several benzothiazole derivatives are used commercially, and widespread use of these chemicals has led to ubiquitous occurrence in diverse environmental compartments. BTs have been reported to be dermal sensitizers, respiratory tract irritants, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and genotoxicants. This article reviews occurrence and fate of a select group of BTs in the environment, as well as human exposure and toxicity. BTs have frequently been found in various environmental matrices at concentrations ranging from sub-ng/L (surface water) to several tens of μg/g (indoor dust). The use of BTs in a number of consumer products, especially in rubber products, has resulted in widespread human exposure. BTs undergo chemical, biological, and photolytic degradation in the environment, creating several transformation products. Of these, 2-thiocyanomethylthio-benzothiazole (2-SCNMeS-BTH) has been shown to be the most toxic. Epidemiological studies have shown excess risks of cancers, including bladder cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia, among rubber factory workers, particularly those exposed to 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (2-SH-BTH). Human exposure to BTs continues to be a concern.

Tissue Distribution, Growth Dilution, and Species‐Specific Bioaccumulation of Organic Ultraviolet Absorbents in Wildlife Freshwater Fish in the Pearl River Catchment, China

“…Organic ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs), including UV filters (UVFs) and UV stabilizers (UVSs), are widely used in consumer and industrial products (such as personal care products, textiles, paints, and plastics) to minimize UV radiation–induced harm. As a result, various UVAs have been detected pervasively in the environment (Balmer et al ; Nakata et al , ; Kameda et al ; Kim et al ; Gago‐Ferrero et al , ; Groz et al ; Lai et al ; Tsui et al , ; Langford et al ; Monforte et al ; Sang and Leung ; Wick et al ; Peng et al ; Liao et al ; Mao et al ; Parajulee et al ; Tovar‐Sanchez et al ).…”

NEW ROUTE FOR THE SYNTHESES OF SOME NOVEL DERIVATIVES OF 3-ARYL BENZO[d] THIAZOLE-2(3H)-IMINE FROM HIGH SUBSTITUTED THIOUREAS

“…As a consequence, designing environmentally benign methods is a challenge for researchers. In recent decades, great efforts have been devoted to exploring novel, convenient, and efficient synthetic routes [27][28][29].…”

Bar Adsorptive Microextraction Coated with Carbon-Based Phase Mixtures for Performance-Enhancement to Monitor Selected Benzotriazoles, Benzothiazoles, and Benzenesulfonamides in Environmental Water Matrices

“…Other applications include ultraviolet stabilizers, dyes, and fungicides [ 2 ]. BTs are also used as anti-corrosion additives as well as vulcanization accelerators in rubber production, biocides in paper and skin making, as well as in the treatment of other industrial products such as herbicides and fungicides [ 3 ]. Finally, BSDs are extensively applied as plasticizers, intermediates in the synthesis of sweeteners, and may also be metabolites of corrosion-inhibiting agents and disinfectants [ 1 ].…”