Carbamates: Are they “Good” or “Bad Guys”?

In this short review, we address carbamates, a class of chemical compounds derived from carbamic acid, which have garnered attention as both valuable assets and potential hazards across diverse applications. Their stable structure, characterized by the R–O–CONH–R functional group, allows for various substituents, enabling their use in medicine, agriculture, and even as chemical warfare agents. In medicine, carbamates play a significant role as components of numerous medications approved by Food and Drug Administration. The stability and permeability properties of carbamates have led to the enhancement of various pharmacological compounds, aiding drug development. In agriculture, carbamates have been used as pesticides to manage pests and increase crop productivity. Despite their effectiveness, overuse and inadequate regulation have raised concerns about environmental contamination and health risks. In this review, we also seize the opportunity to present information to the readers about the framework of international agreements on toxic compounds, highlighting their potential misuse as chemical warfare agents and how they have been a reason of concern, with their high toxicity across various exposure pathways. The inclusion of certain carbamates in the Chemical Weapons Convention underscores their lethal nature. However, they lack comprehensive research, raising questions about their complete effects and potential countermeasures.

Keywords:
carbamate; medicine; pesticide; nerve agents; CWC; OPCW