Effects Of Chlordane Research Articles

Toxic Effects of Chlordane and Mirex-contaminated Soil on Terrestrial Organisms

In order to provide method and data for monitoring,eco-toxicological diagnosis and remediation of contaminated soil,the acute toxicological effects on earthworms,as well as seed germination rates and root elongation rates of four selected plants(wheat,cabbage,corn and rice) were studied using chlordane and mirex-contaminated soil.The results showed that the response of earthworm to the contaminated sites was very sensitive and the mortality increased with chlordane and mirex concentration increasing.The earthworm death appeared at the third day and the mortality of some high concentration treatment groups reached 100% at the 14th day.Under the same concentrations of chlordane and mirex in the soil,root elongation rates were significantly inhibited and more sensitive than seed germination rates of the four species.The order of seed germination sensitivity was wheat Chinese cabbage rice corn.As pesticides,chlordane and mirex toxicity to soil animal(earthworms) was greater than the toxicity to plants.The results suggested that the acute toxicity on earthworms could be used to indicate the contamination level of the industrial sites polluted by chlordane and mirex.The recommended test period was 14 days.

Time-dependent effects of chlordane on thyroid histological structure and function in rats

In order to study the time-dependent effects of chlordane on thyroid hormone levels and histological structure in rats, 120 healthy 4-week-old SD rats were divided randomly into 12 groups. Rats in treatment groups were treated orally by gavage with chlordane at a dose of 15 mg kg−1 for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 40 days, while rats in control group received an equal volume of corn oil. Serum levels of thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Sections of thyroids were dyed with hematoxylin–eosin to detect any pathological alterations. In chlordane treated groups, on day 5, changes in serum levels of FT4, FT3, and TSH were not found. On days 10 and 15, serum levels of FT4 and FT3 decreased, accompanied by increased levels of TSH. On days 20, 30 and 40, serum levels of these hormones returned to control values. As for alterations in histology, on day 10–15, follicular epithelium of the thyroid were found to proliferate into two layers in chlordane treated rats. On day 20, in focal areas the two-layer afollicular epithelia were observed to continuously proliferate into 3–4 layers of follicular epithelium, termed hyperplasia plaques. On days 30 and 40, solid buds and secondary follicles to solid buds were detected. The earliest alteration of thyroid hormones in treated SD rats occurred between 5 and 10 days with corresponding histopathologic changes. As the exposure time increased, the serum levels of hormones and histopathology altered in a time-dependent manner.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds and mixtures: unexpected dose-response.

The current study examined the effects on the red-eared slider turtle of extremely low doses of three endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs)--trans-Nonachlor, chlordane, and p,p'-DDE-singly and in mixtures. Previous studies using the red-eared slider turtle have proven its value as an organism for obtaining information about the effects of endocrine-disrupting compounds. The sex of the turtle, easily manipulated by exposure during embryogenesis, continues to be a marker of effects. When red-eared slider turtle embryos incubating at a temperature that normally produces a male-biased sex ratio are exposed to these compounds singly, the sex ratio of the resulting hatchlings shifts significantly to a female bias. The current work offers further evidence that the red-eared slider turtle provides a way to quantify the effects of mixtures and has the potential as a model for evaluating additivity and synergy. The results provide information about how very low doses (parts per billion) of these compounds behave in mixtures. The dose ranges were 0.125-0.5 ng/egg for trans-Nonachlor and chlordane and 7-28 ng/egg for p,p'-DDE. Results suggest the possibility that two of the compounds may exert effects in mixtures via complementary pathways; when applied singly, the effects of chlordane and p,p'-DDE were inversely related to dose, but in mixtures, which were essentially a greater dose of EDC, the compounds had an increased effect. In all cases, mixtures resulted in 100% females.

Synergistic effects of chlordane and TPA in multistage morphological transformation of SHE cells.

The cyclodiene pesticide chlordane has been reported to be a non-genotoxic carcinogen in rodents. The effects of chlordane on SHE cell transformation were investigated in this study. It appeared that chlordane exhibited a weak transforming activity when applied repeatedly at 8 micrograms/ml. No effect resulted from the combination of benzo[a]pyrene-chlordane. In contrast, chlordane in the range 5-20 micrograms/ml and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (0.1 micrograms/ml) highly potentiated each other when applied sequentially. The synergistic effects could be inhibited by dexamethasone. These results led us to study the genotoxicity of chlordane on SHE cells: no DNA adduct formation could be detected in SHE cells treated with chlordane at a concentration potentiating the transforming effect of TPA. We also confirmed that this pesticide markedly inhibited intercellular communication between SHE as well as V79 cells. These results support literature data on the non-genotoxicity of chlordane. Overall, this study highlights the fact that interaction between-non genotoxic carcinogens may enhance the transformation frequency of SHE cells. Thus, combined effects must be taken into account in the evaluation of carcinogenic risk.

Differential protection of chlorophyllin against clastogenic effects of chromium and chlordane in mouse bone marrow in vivo

The anticlastogenic activity of sodium-copper-chlorophyllin was tested against two known clastogens, chromium(VI) oxide and the pesticide chlordane, both of which occur as environmental toxicants. The chemicals were administered to male Swiss albino mice by gavage and chromosomes were studied from bone marrow cell 24 h after the exposure, following colchicine-air dying-Giemsa preparation. The end-points screened were the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and damaged cells. The clastogenic effects induced by chromium in aqueous solution (20 mg/ kg body weight) were reduced to a significant level by chlorophyllin (1.5 mg/kg body weight), when administered both before and simultaneously with the toxicant. The effects of chlordane in olive oil (10 mg/kg body weight) were, however, not reduced by the administration of chlorophyllin (1.5 and 3 mg/kg body weight)

Effects of chlordane on parameters of liver and muscle toxicity in man and experimental animals

An attempt was made to compare the toxic effects of the organochlorine insecticide ‘chlordane’ in man and rats. Analysis of blood for chlordane metabolites showed their presence in the descending order of trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, hepatachlorepoxide and cis-nonachlor. The total range of chlordane and its metabolites in the sera of workers was 9.84 ± 4.47 ng/g. Serum levels of triglycerides (TG), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were also found to be higher in pestcontrol operators. In a simultaneous study, rats were administered 100 mg/kg body wt. of chlordane by stomach tube once a day for 4 days, whereas 50 mg/kg body wt. of chlordane was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 4 days. The data show that total cholesterol and serum TG as well as CPK and LDH activities are increased after chlordane treatment. The isoenzyme patterns suggest that an increase in CPK and LDH is related to skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the hepatotoxicity of chlordane was also studied in rats only. A significant increase in liver weight, its water content, total lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids was recorded. Chlordane induced lipid peroxidation in the liver, exhibiting a dose-response relationship. Although no appreciable effect on mitochondrial function and latent ATPase activity was observed, 2,4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase activity was inhibited. Histological examination of the liver confirmed fatty infiltration induced by chlordane in rats.

Changes in brain ATPases in rats fed on chlordane mixed with iron-sufficient and deficient diet.

The in vivo effects of chlordane on brain Na+-K+, oligomycin-sensitive (O.S) and oligomycin-insensitive (O.I) Mg2+ ATPases in rats were investigated. The rats were fed on 0, 25, 50 and 100 ppm chlordane mixed with iron-sufficient (I.S) and deficient (I.D) diets for 12 weeks. The enzyme activities were determined in the brain P2 fraction of rats at the end of 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. Na+-K+ ATPase activity was reduced in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in rats fed on chlordane mixed with I.S and I.D diets. The reduction in the enzyme activity was more pronounced in the rats fed on chlordane mixed with I.D diet as compared to those fed on I.S diet. The brain O.S Mg2+ ATPase was also reduced in rats receiving chlordane. The reduction of O.S Mg2+ ATPase was higher than Na+-K+ ATPase. However, the O.I Mg2+ ATPase activity in rats fed on chlordane was not altered at any dose level. These results indicate that the rat brain ATPases may be particularly sensitive to chlordane.

Effects of chlordane on conditioned avoidance response, brain seizure threshold and open-field performance of prenatally-treated mice.

1. Three groups of six pregnant albino mice at the third stage of gestation were given chlordane 1 or 2.5 mg/kg body weight or olive oil 10 ml/kg. They were dosed orally for seven consecutive days.2. Ten young mice, regardless of sex, were randomly selected from the progeny of each group of treated mothers and tested for conditioned avoidance response, electroshock seizure threshold, and open-field performance.3. Offspring of chlordane-treated mice made fewer conditioned avoidance responses than the controls on each day of training.4. Electroshock seizure threshold was raised.5. In the open-field test, progeny of mothers receiving the larger dose were more active than controls. A dose x days interaction indicated a complex response of the chlordane-treated mice to experience in the open-field.6. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Effects of chlordane and methylmercury on the metabolism of carbaryl and carbofuran in rats

Methylmercury hydroxide pretreatments (10 mg/kg/day for 2 days) decreased hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels and mixed function oxidase activity over twofold, while chlordane pretreatments (20 mg/kg/day for 2 days) induced the oxidative enzymes nearly twofold. Methylmercury hydroxide pretreatments also decreased microsomal hydroxylation reactions of carbaryl and carbofuran to form 4-hydroxy carbaryl, N-hydroxymethyl carbaryl and 3-hydroxy carbofuran. Chlordane pretreatments increased hydroxylation rates at these positions and also increased the amount of carbamate- 14C equivalents detected in the water-extractable fraction. When chlordane and methylmercury hydroxide were administered simultaneously the effects balanced out so that carbamate metabolism using microsomes from this group was similar to controls. In whole animal metabolism studies, chlordane pretreatment increased the rate of urinary elimination of carbaryl and carbofuran equivalents. Methylmercury hydroxide, unexpectedly, also increased urinary excretion of both carbamate equivalents and possible mechanisms involved in the enhancement of urinary excretion are investigated. Chlordane and methylmercury hydroxide pretreatment did not qualitatively alter microsomal or urinary carbamate metabolites, although some quantitative differences were observed.

The effects of chlordane, DDT, and 3-methylcholanthrene upon the metabolism and toxicity of diethyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothionate (Parathion)

In rats, (1) DDT and chlordane cause equal stimulation of both pathways of parathion metabolism, similar to phenobarbital, and (2) 3-methylcholanthrene treatment results in preferential enhancement of the pathway leading to the formation of paraoxon. With mice, (1) DDT treatment results in greater enhancement of the pathway responsible for diethyl hydrogen phosphorothionate than of that producing paraoxon, (2) chlordane equally enhances both pathways of parathion metabolism, and (3) 3-methylcholanthrene treatment results in a repression of diethyl hydrogen phosphorothionate production. The differential inductive effects are discussed in terms of the hypothesis that two separate enzyme systems are involved in the metabolism of parathion. Results from toxicity studies in mice indicate that (1) no significant change in parathion toxicity results from DDT treatment, (2) toxicity is not altered significantly after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, and (3) chlordane treatment affords protection against the toxicity of parathion. The lack of correlation between the toxicity studies and the metabolic studies suggests that factors other than metabolism contribute to toxicity.

Sugarcane Growth Responses to Chlordane and Microarthropods and Effects of Chlordane on Soil Fauna1

Since 1954 many Louisiana sugarcane growers have applied chlordane to the soil at planting time to control wireworms in light soils and a miscellaneous group of small animals in heavy soils. From field and laboratory studies it is concluded that, while beneficial effects of chlordane on sugarcane yields may sometimes be found. such effects are usually small and difficult to measure. Furthermore, soil application of chlordane reduces earthworm populations in cane fields. where small increases in sugarcane growth are associated with the application of chlordane to the soil, it seems likely that the stimulating effects of chlordane on plant growth may be at least as important as the control of any arthropod pests. Collembola and Acarina are the most abundant and widely distributed arthropods present in the sugarcane soils of Louisiana.

The Effects of Chlordane and Toxaphene on Mitosis in Roots of the Onion (Allium CepaL.)

Experiments were carried out with technical chlordane and toxaphene to ascertain whether, employed as insecticides, they had any effect on cell division. Root-tips of onion seedlings were used as test material and the doses used were equivalent to 20 and 200 lb. per acre of 10 per cent, dusts on gypsum. By germinating onion seeds in direct contact with the insecticide under investigation, it was shown that neither chlordane nor toxaphene affected germination, but chlordane reduced the growth rate. The frequency of nuclear divisions was unaffected by toxaphene, but reduced by chlordane. Both compounds affected the dividing cell by causing a delay in pro-metaphase and preventing nuclear reconstruction in telophase. In addition, chlordane had a lethal effect on the resting cell. The effect on telophase was evident for a period of at least four days after removal from the insecticides.Pot experiments showed that the low dose of toxaphene had little effect on cell division, but the low dose of chlordane and th...