Organochlorine Pesticides Lindane Research Articles

STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF LINDANE AND SODIUM BICHROMATE ON THE MYOCARDIUM.

Aim: The aim of the research is to study the immunohistochemical markers of the endothelium of blood vessels and myocardial ventricles under chronic exposure to sodium bichromate and lindane, as well as in conjunction with damaging biochemical agents contained in the blood. Materials and Methods: The object of the experiment was outbred white mice (males). The study was carried out in 3 groups: 1st group - control, 2nd group - exposure to sodium bichromate 5 mg/kg, 3rd group - exposure to organochlorine pesticide lindane 100 mg/kg. In this experiment authors used the next methods: immunohistochemical method., biochemical research, statistical analysis. Results: The data obtained from an experimental study show that the level of cardiomarkers in blood plasma is characterized by different changes when exposed to these two compounds. Basically, the predominance of the effect of sodium bichromate on the LDH level is noted as compared to the effect of lindane; on the CK-MB level, their effects were the same, i.e., there is an increase in their level in blood plasma. Conclusions: Thus, long-term exposure to sodium bichromate leads to the activation of angiogenesis, destruction of the integrity of the endothelium, and this, in turn, leads to reparative changes located around in the myocardial cells.

Glutamatergic transmission associated with locomotion-related neurotoxicity to lindane over generations in Caenorhabditis elegans

Organochlorine pesticide lindane in the environment and biota results in the potential risks on ecosystem and human health. Lindane can adversely affect the locomotion and nervous system, yet the potential neurotoxicity of lindane over generations remains uncertain. In this study, the neurotoxicity and underlying mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were investigated after parental (P0) exposure to lindane at environmentally relevant concentrations over generations. Exposure to lindane at concentrations of 10–100 ng/L significantly decreased body bends and head thrashes in P0 generation. Significant decrease of fluorescence labeled different neurotransmitters, and clear morphological changes by exposure to lindane at 10–100 ng/L suggested that lindane could induce the neuronal damage in C. elegans. During the transgenerational process, decreased locomotive behaviors were also observed in F1–F3 generations, and head thrashes returned to normal levels in F4 generation. Moreover, lindane exposure down-regulated the expression of dat-1, dop-1, glr-1 and mod-1genes, while up-regulated unc-30 gene in P0 generation, which recovered to normal levels in F4 generation. Interestingly, eat-4 continued to be regulated from inhibition to stimulation in P0–F4 generations, suggesting that glutamatergic transmission may more contribute to the neurotoxicity of lindane over generations.

The long-term environmental risks from the aging of organochlorine pesticide lindane

Although increased contact time (aging) of pesticides in the soil decreases their bioavailability, this does not mean that the bound residues formed during the aging process pose fewer risk to the soil environment. Here the earthworm Eisenia fetida was exposed to organochlorine pesticide lindane in soil under different durations of lindane aging and exposure. The results of de novo RNA sequencing followed by molecular and biochemical validations demonstrated the aged lindane showed a different tendency to disrupt acetylcholine (ACh) transmission with the effects of fresh lindane to gamma-aminobutyric acid. Using own-developed earthworm activity test, we confirmed aged lindane prompted earthworms to exclusively exhibit a significant hypoactivity in locomotion, which could be explained by the inhibition of Ach system. This study suggested that the toxicity of pesticides would not depend solely on their free state components, and the awareness of long-term environmental risks from the bound states needs to be raised.

Selective removal of chlorinated organic compounds from lindane wastes by combination of nonionic surfactant soil flushing and Fenton oxidation

The extensive use of the organochlorine pesticide lindane in the second half of the 20th century generated large volumes of wastes over the world. Among these wastes, a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), mainly composed of chlorobenzenes, hexachlorocyclohexanes and heptachlorocyclohexanes, was dumped in insecure landfills remaining in the subsurface and contaminating the groundwater. A coupled process, combining soil flushing (with a nonionic surfactant) and Fenton oxidation, was proposed to deal with this problem. A commercial surfactant (E-Mulse 3 ®) was used to extract most of the residual DNAPL in soil at column conditions. The resulting surfactant flushing solution (SFS) presented high concentration of chlorinated organic compounds (COCs = 3693 mg L−1). In order to recover the surfactant and abate the COCs, the SFS was treated by Fenton process using three doses of hydrogen peroxide (200%, 100% and 50% of the theoretical stoichiometric amount for the complete mineralization of COCs; maintaining a molar ratio of H2O2:Fe = 32). Conversions of COCs above 80% were obtained when H2O2 doses of 100% and 200% of the stoichiometric amount were used at 144 h and 48 h, respectively. Non-aromatic compounds resulted to be less prone to oxidation by hydroxyl radicals than chlorobenzenes. The oxidation of the surfactant was significantly lower than that of the pollutants; therefore the surfactant capacity was maintained after the oxidation treatment and it could be reused in further flushing steps, improving the economy of the process.

Optimization of electro-Fenton process for effective degradation of organochlorine pesticide lindane

Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide broadly used in the last decades. It is persistent and recalcitrant in aquatic environments and difficult to biodegrade. This study is focused on the complete degradation of lindane by an electrochemical advanced oxidation process, the electro-Fenton (EF) process, using a BDD anode and carbon felt (CF) cathode. The influence of the main operating parameters, i.e., applied current intensity (50–1000mA), catalyst concentration (0.0–0.5mM) and initial pollutant concentration (5.0–10.0mgL−1) has been investigated and optimized. The applied current plays a determinant role both in oxidation of lindane and mineralization of its aqueous solution. Taking into account the mineralization current efficiency (MCE) and the specific energy consumption (EC), the applied current of 400mA was found to be the most convenient value. Catalyst (Fe2+) concentration as low as 0.05mM, promotes efficiently H2O2 decomposition into hydroxyl radicals improving the efficiency of the process and minimizing the involvement of parasitic reactions. The initial pollutant concentration does not affect the performance of the process. At the optimum operating conditions, the complete degradation of 10mgL−1 lindane solution and 80% of TOC removal were achieved at 15min and 4h, respectively.

The release of lindane from contaminated building materials

The release of the organochlorine pesticide lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) from several types of contaminated building materials was studied to assess inhalation hazard and decontamination requirements in response to accidental and/or intentional spills. The materials included glass, polypropylene carpet, latex-painted drywall, ceramic tiles, vinyl floor tiles, and gypsum ceiling tiles. For each surface concentration, an equilibrium concentration was determined in the vapour phase of the surrounding air. Vapor concentrations depended upon initial surface concentration, temperature, and type of building material. A time-weighted average (TWA) concentration in the air was used to quantify the health risk associated with the inhalation of lindane vapors. Transformation products of lindane, namely α-hexachlorocyclohexane and pentachlorocyclohexene, were detected in the vapour phase at both temperatures and for all of the test materials. Their formation was greater on glass and ceramic tiles, compared to other building materials. An empiric Sips isotherm model was employed to approximate experimental results and to estimate the release of lindane and its transformation products. This helped determine the extent of decontamination required to reduce the surface concentrations of lindane to the levels corresponding to vapor concentrations below TWA.

Using Representational Difference Analysis to detect changes in transcript expression of Aiptasia genes after laboratory exposure to lindane

Molecular stress responses to pesticide exposures represent an understudied area of cnidarian transcriptome investigations. The organochlorine pesticide lindane is known to disrupt normal neuron function. Cnidarians with simple nervous systems are recognized as sensitive indicators of water quality, yet nothing is known about cnidarian responses to lindane. Sea anemones (Aiptasia pallida) were exposed for 4h to lindane (20μg/l). Because anemones have neurons and lindane is known to target neurons, it is anticipated that cnidarian stress responses will include changes in transcription of genes associated with neurons. Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) was utilized to isolate differentially transcribed genes in the anemones exposed to the pesticide. After two rounds of RDA hybridizations, 148 amplified fragments ranging in size from 150 to 800bp were cloned. Sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of 106 clones revealed 56 different gene fragments. Virtual Northern dot blots were used as a preliminary screening tool to identify the most responsive RDA products. To further characterize the specificity of response, additional anemones were exposed to a series of lindane concentrations (0, 0.2, 2.0, 10, and 20μg/l). Northern dot blots were subsequently used to develop expression profiles for selected RDA products over the range of pesticide concentrations. The seven most responsive RDA products represent genes with products associated with neuron development, immune responses, and Ca2+ binding/transport. The resulting expression profiles illustrate that these RDA products exhibit various degrees of concentration specificity with some RDA products being significantly up-regulated at 20μg/l while other RDA products are most responsive at concentrations <20μg/l. Results also demonstrate how RDA can be used to identify potentially important biomarkers of organochlorine exposure while generating new hypotheses about important phenomena such as endocrine disruption in cnidarians.

Haematological and biochemical responses of freshwater teleost fish Cyprinus carpio (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes) during acute and chronic sublethal exposure to lindane

The impact of acute and sublethal toxicity of a synthetic organochlorine pesticide lindane on some haematological and biochemical parameters of a freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio was estimated. The median lethal concentration of lindane for 24 h was 0.38 ppm. During acute treatment (24 h), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and erythrocyte (RBC) values were decreased, whereas leucocyte (WBC) count increased in the pesticide treated fish. The hematological indices like mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were decreased when compared to control group. Biochemical profiles like plasma glucose and protein levels were increased in lindane exposed fish showing a percent increase of 50.36 and 3.98 at the end of 24 h treatment. However, glycogen content in liver and muscle were decreased showing a percent decrease of 21.70 and 1.74. In sublethal treatment (1/10th of LC50 24 h value, 0.038 ppm), RBC count was decreased whereas WBC count increased in the pesticide treated fish throughout the study period (25 days). Hb and Hct values were decreased up to 10th day and after that recovered showing a significant increase in the rest of the study period. Similarly, a biphasic response was observed in the value of MCV, MCH and MCHC. Plasma glucose level was significantly increased while plasma protein level decreased throughout the study period. Further, glycogen level in muscle and liver were showed a mixed trend. In the present study, the pesticide lindane caused alterations on haematological and biochemical parameters of C. carpio and these alterations can be used as non specific biomarkers in pesticide contaminated aquatic ecosystem.

Dual actions of lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) on calcium homeostasis and exocytosis in rat PC12 cells

The persistent organochlorine pesticide lindane is still abundantly found in the environment and in human and animal tissue samples. Lindane induces a wide range of adverse health effects, which are at least partially mediated via the known inhibition of GABA A and glycine receptors. Additionally, lindane has been reported to increase the basal intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+] i). As Ca 2+ triggers many cellular processes, including cell death and vesicular neurotransmitter release (exocytosis), we investigated whether lindane affects exocytosis, Ca 2+ homeostasis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytotoxicity in neuroendocrine PC12 cells. Amperometric recordings and [Ca 2+] i imaging experiments with fura-2 demonstrated that lindane (≥ 10 μM) rapidly increases basal exocytosis and basal [Ca 2+] i. Additional imaging and electrophysiological recordings revealed that this increase was largely due to a lindane-induced membrane depolarization and subsequent opening of N- and P/Q-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels (VGCC). On the other hand, lindane (≥ 3 μM) induced a concentration-dependent but non-specific inhibition of VGCCs, thereby limiting the lindane-induced increase in basal [Ca 2+] i and exocytosis. Importantly, the non-specific inhibition of VGCCs also reduced stimulation-evoked exocytosis and Ca 2+ influx. Though lindane exposure concentration-dependently increased ROS production, cell viability was not affected indicating that the used concentrations were not acute cytotoxic. These combined findings indicate that lindane has two, partly counteracting effects. Lindane causes membrane depolarization, thereby increasing basal [Ca 2+] i and exocytosis. In parallel, lindane inhibits VGCCs, thereby limiting the basal effects and reducing stimulation-evoked [Ca 2+] i and exocytosis. This study further underlines the need to consider presynaptic, non-receptor-mediated effects in human risk assessment.

Biodegradation of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) by microorganisms

The organochlorine pesticide Lindane is the gamma-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Technical grade Lindane contains a mixture of HCH isomers which include not only gamma-HCH, but also large amounts of predominantly alpha-, beta- and delta-HCH. The physical properties and persistence of each isomer differ because of the different chlorine atom orientations on each molecule (axial or equatorial). However, all four isomers are considered toxic and recalcitrant worldwide pollutants. Biodegradation of HCH has been studied in soil, slurry and culture media but very little information exists on in situ bioremediation of the different isomers including Lindane itself, at full scale. Several soil microorganisms capable of degrading, and utilizing HCH as a carbon source, have been reported. In selected bacterial strains, the genes encoding the enzymes involved in the initial degradation of Lindane have been cloned, sequenced, expressed and the gene products characterized. HCH is biodegradable under both oxic and anoxic conditions, although mineralization is generally observed only in oxic systems. As is found for most organic compounds, HCH degradation in soil occurs at moderate temperatures and at near neutral pH. HCH biodegradation in soil has been reported at both low and high (saturated) moisture contents. Soil texture and organic matter appear to influence degradation presumably by sorption mechanisms and impact on moisture retention, bacterial growth and pH. Most studies report on the biodegradation of relatively low (< 500 mg/kg) concentrations of HCH in soil. Information on the effects of inorganic nutrients, organic carbon sources or other soil amendments is scattered and inconclusive. More in-depth assessments of amendment effects and evaluation of bioremediation protocols, on a large scale, using soil with high HCH concentrations, are needed.

Effects of insecticides on non-target organisms in African agroecosystems: a case for establishing regional testing programmes

Field trials were simultaneously conducted in Algeria, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia between 1992 and 1995 in order to determine the effects of organochlorine pesticides lindane (all countries) and endosulfan (two countries) on non-target arthropods in African maize agroecosystems. In addition, a laboratory screening test was conducted to determine the initial toxicity’s of several organochlorines and a synthetic pyrethroid to three species of non-target arthropods. Lindane significantly reduced the numbers of Collembola in over 80% of the field trials for an average of six weeks. Similarly, spiders were reduced in 53% of the trials for an average of 2.8 week, and ants were reduced in 64% of the trials for an average of 2.5 week. The lindane treatment significantly reduced organic matter breakdown in over 45% of the trials, whereas endosulfan had no effect. The latter had little or no effect on non-target arthropods. The lindane treatment significantly reduced plant damage in all countries. However, corresponding significant increases in yield were observed in less than 50%. There was an apparent consistent effect of lindane on different non-target groups as indicated by the positive correlation’s between these variables. Endosulfan was found to be harmless to all the non-target arthropod species included in the laboratory screening tests. The order of toxicity was lindane = deltamethrin ⪢ chlorpyrifos ⪢ endosulfan. It is concluded that African countries need to develop procedures for testing pesticides in Africa in order to arrive at the correct conclusions concerning adverse side effects from pesticide use.

Reproductive and endocrine function in rams exposed to the organochlorine pesticides lindane and pentachlorophenol from conception.

There is controversy over the potential endocrine modulating influence of pesticides, particularly during sensitive phases of development. In this study, ram lambs were exposed to lindane and pentachlorophenol from conception to necropsy at 28 weeks of age. The rams (and their mothers) were given untreated feed (n = 7) or feed treated with 1 mg kg-1 body weight per day of lindane (n = 12) or pentachlorophenol (n = 5). Semen was collected from 19 weeks onwards and reproductive behaviour was tested at 26 weeks. Serum was collected every 2 weeks and at 27 weeks every 15 min for 6 h during both day and night, and for 1 h before and 5 h after stimulation with GnRH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone. The pesticides did not affect body weight and ejaculate characteristics, or cause overt toxicity. In pentachlorophenol-treated rams, scrotal circumference was increased. However, seminiferous tubule atrophy was more severe and epididymal sperm density was reduced in comparison with untreated rams at necropsy (P < 0.05). Thyroxine concentrations were lower in pentachlorophenol-treated rams than in untreated rams (P < 0.05). However, after thyroid-stimulating hormone treatment, the thyroxine response was unaltered. Reproductive behaviour was reduced in lindane-treated rams compared with control rams (P < 0.05). Serum LH and oestradiol concentrations during reproductive development, LH pulse frequency at 27 weeks and testosterone secretion after GnRH treatment were lower in lindane-treated rams than in untreated rams (P < 0.05). In summary, the effects of pentachlorophenol on the testis may be linked to a decrease in thyroxine concentrations, and reduced reproductive behaviour in lindane-treated rams may be related to decreased LH, oestradiol and testosterone concentrations.

The Organochlorine Pesticide Lindane Interacts with the Human Erythrocyte Membrane

Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide widely used in veterinary and human medicine to treat ectoparasites and pediculosis. Given its lipophilic character lipid-rich membranes are a plausible target of its interaction with living organisms. To evaluate its toxic effect on cell membranes lindane was made to interact with human erythrocytes and molecular models of the red cell membrane. These consisted in bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and of dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), representative of phospholipid classes located in the outer and inner monolayers of the erythrocyte membrane, respectively. Experiments by fluorescence spectroscopy showed that lindane interacted with DMPC large unilamellar vesicles fluidizing both its polar head and its acyl chain regions. These results were confirmed by X-ray diffraction; however, a higher degree of structural perturbation was observed in DMPE bilayers. Electron microscopy of human erythrocytes incubated with lindane revealed that they changed their normal discoid shape to cup-shaped stomatocytes. In accordance with the bilayer couple hypothesis, this result means that lindane inserted in the inner leaflet of the erythrocyte membrane, in agreement with its preferential interaction with DMPE. It is therefore concluded that the toxic effects of the pesticide can be related to its capacity to interact with the lipid moiety of cell membranes.

Lindane Inhibition of Gap Junctional Communication in Myometrial Myocytes Is Partially Dependent on Phosphoinositide-Generated Second Messengers

The ability of environmental contaminants to modulate gap junctional communication between uterine smooth muscle cells is generally unknown, despite recognition that myometrial gap junctions may play a role in synchronizing uterine contractions during parturition. The present study tested the hypothesis that the organochlorine pesticide lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) inhibits gap junctional communication in myometrial myocytes due to the release of phosphoinositide-dependent second messengers. The effect on gap junctional communication by lindane was tested in cultured rat myometrial smooth muscle cells by monitoring transfer of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow. A rapid, concentration-dependent, but reversible inhibition of dye transfer was noted with 4-min exposures, and inhibition was complete with 10 microM lindane. Lindane also stimulated the production of the Ca(2+)-releasing species inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate which peaked at 5 min (100 pmol/mg protein) and remained elevated after a 15-min exposure. To examine the possible inhibitory role of Ca2+ on gap junctions, the Ca2+ ionophore 4-br-A23187 was used. Although A23187 also inhibited gap junctional communication, inhibition was not complete even at concentrations that appeared cytotoxic (70% inhibition at 2 microM A23187). Cells were then loaded with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM, which blocked the lindane-induced rise in calcium, and dye transfer experiments with lindane were repeated in Ca(2+)-free medium. Inhibition of dye transfer was still complete under these conditions, showing that increased intracellular calcium was not required for lindane-induced inhibition of gap junctional communication. Subsequently, 10 microM lindane was shown to produce a sustained increase in protein kinase C (PKC) activity (31, 17, and 15 pmol of PKC peptide phosphorylated/min/mg protein for 2-, 5-, and 10-min exposures, respectively). Known activators of PKC, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, abolished gap junctional communication at nanomolar concentrations. Although use of the PKC inhibitor staurosporine failed to reverse lindane's inhibitory action, depletion of PKC activity through prolonged exposure to TPA partially reversed lindane's effect. This suggests that PKC activation potentiates but does not solely mediate lindane's inhibitory action on gap junctional communication.

Organochlorine pesticides in gamebirds of Eastern Tennessee

Muscular tissue specimens of adult grouse, quail and woodcock from the rural counties of upper East Tennessee have been analyzed by gas chromatography for the organochlorine pesticides lindane, heptachlor, endrin, aldrin, dieldrin, DDT (total) and methoxychlor. Procedures for the analyses are described. The pesticidal levels in the muscle of all gamebirds exceeded the acceptable levels shown in governmental sources and professional journals. The observed concentrations constitute a serious threat to the wildlife of the region and permit accumulation and magnification even in man, who eats gamebirds as a part of his diet.