N-Methylcarbamate insecticides

N-Methylcarbamate insecticides are a family of crop-protection chemicals built on a carbamic acid backbone with an N-methyl substituent. They kill insects by reversibly blocking acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that terminates nerve impulses, causing paralysis and death of the pest. Applied to fruits, vegetables, field crops, and around stored foods, they break down relatively quickly in the environment and do not accumulate in soil the way older organochlorines did. Familiar members include aldicarb, carbaryl, methomyl, and propoxur. Several are acutely toxic to people, so labels enforce pre-harvest intervals, protective equipment, and maximum residue limits on harvested food.