Degradation of carbendazim in aqueous solution by dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma: Identification and toxicity of degradation products

•DBD plasma exhibited a high degradation efficiency (89.04%)of carbendazim solution.•Three new degradation products of MBC after DBD plasma treatment was identified.•New products were formed by the cleavage of benzimidazole heterocyclic ring of MBC.•The degradation products demonstrated much lower biotoxicity toward yeast.