Fenobucarb (2-sec-butylphenyl methylcarbamate,
BPMC) is a potent carbamate pesticide with high insecticidal activity.
In this study, the enantioselective accumulation of BPMC in earthworms
(Eisenia foetida) and dissipation in
cabbage, Chinese cabbage, strawberry, and soils were investigated.
The samples were prepared using the QuEChERS method and analyzed using
fast and sensitive chiral high-performance liquid chromatography tandem
mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis. The stereoselective accumulation
of BPMC enantiomers revealed that S-(+)-BPMC was
preferentially accumulated in earthworms rather than its antipode.
However, the dissipation studies showed that S-(+)-BPMC
degraded faster than the R-(−)-isomer in cabbage,
Chinese cabbage, strawberry, and soils. Furthermore, the cytotoxic
effect of BPMC enantiomers toward PC12 and N9 neuronal, A549 lung
cancer, and MRC5 lung fibroblast cell lines was evaluated using an
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.
Compared with R-(−)- and rac-isomers, S-(+)-BPMC exhibited lower cytotoxicity
in neuronal cells and a weaker proliferating effect on lung cancer
and lung fibroblast cells. Altogether, the findings suggest the use
of the pure S-(+)-enantiomer in agricultural management
rather than the use of the racemate or the R-(−)-isomer,
which might reduce the environmental risk.