Dinocap is a contact fungicide that was once widely used to control powdery mildew on many crops. It was also used as a non-systemic acaricide to control mites and ticks. However, due to safety concerns, its use has been banned or restricted in many countries, including the European Union.
Dinocap is a mixture of six different isomers, one of which is meptyldinocap. Meptyldinocap is the only isomer that is currently approved for use in some countries.
Safety concerns
Dinocap is considered to be slightly toxic. Exposure to dinocap can cause a number of health problems, including:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Excessive sweating
- Rapid breathing and heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Thirst
- Dehydration
- Heat stroke
- Convulsions
Inhalation of dinocap can cause tightness in the chest and fluid retention in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary edema.
Regulatory status
Dinocap is no longer registered for use in many countries, including the United States and the European Union. Meptyldinocap, a single isomer of dinocap, is still registered for use in some countries.
Alternatives to dinocap
There are a number of alternative fungicides and acaricides available that are considered to be safer than dinocap. If you are concerned about the safety of dinocap, you should talk to your doctor or a pest control professional about alternative options.