Toxicity and metabolism of endosulfan in three freshwater catfishes

Abstract

The toxicity (96-h LC 50 values) and metabolism of endosulfan to three freshwater catfishes— Heteropneustes fossilis, Mystus cavasius and M. vittatus—were studied. The dosage-mortality regression lines showed the insufficiency of isolated 96-h LC 50 data for assessing the toxicity of the compound. The principal metabolite was endosulfan sulphate and the principal detoxification products were endosulfan alcohol and endosulfan ether. Liver was found to be the principal site of storage and degradation of endosulfan.