Toxicity Of Toxaphene Research Articles

Toxic Effects of Toxaphene for Goldfish

Toxaphene is an organochlorine insecticide, widely used in cereals, vegetables, fruits, tea and other pests. However, in killing pests, increasing agricultural production, while toxaphene aquatic creatures threat. In order to enrich aquatic organisms toxicological data, evaluate the risk to aquatic organisms toxaphene healthy growth, we use the traditional toxicological approach to study the toxic effects of toxaphene goldfish (Carassius auratus)'s. Study 5 toxaphene concentration 7d goldfish exposed catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), acetylcholinesterase (TChE), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), malondialdehyde (MDA) effects, the results showed that: toxaphene in 0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4, 0.5 μg / L in five concentrations, these five enzymes promoting effect, with more toxaphene concentration high, goldfish liver CAT activity is stronger, the stronger the brain and liver SOD activity, the activity of the brain TChE weaker, the stronger the brain activity of GSH-PX, and the contrast with the blank, P <0.01, illustrate the five enzymes do toxaphene toxicity testing of biomarkers.

A Genome-Wide Screen Identifies Yeast Genes Required for Tolerance to Technical Toxaphene, an Organochlorinated Pesticide Mixture

Exposure to toxaphene, an environmentally persistent mixture of chlorinated terpenes previously utilized as an insecticide, has been associated with various cancers and diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nevertheless, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for these toxic effects have not been established. In this study, we used a functional approach in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae to demonstrate that toxaphene affects yeast mutants defective in (1) processes associated with transcription elongation and (2) nutrient utilization. Synergistic growth defects are observed upon exposure to both toxaphene and the known transcription elongation inhibitor mycophenolic acid (MPA). However, unlike MPA, toxaphene does not deplete nucleotides and additionally has no detectable effect on transcription elongation. Many of the yeast genes identified in this study have human homologs, warranting further investigations into the potentially conserved mechanisms of toxaphene toxicity.

Changes in gene expression profile due to acute toxicity of toxaphene in the marine medaka

Differential gene expression profiling was performed using cDNA microarray hybridization on the hepatic tissue of the marine medaka (Oryzias javanicus) after exposure to toxaphene, which is classified as a persistent organic pollutant. Ninety-seven differentially expressed candidate genes were identified; 40 were induced and 57 were repressed (P<0.05). The genes were assembled into 18 groups based mainly on the Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups classification. These isolated gene candidates were differentially expressed and therefore have great potential as molecular biomarkers for identifying environmental stressors and prognosis for the biological effects of the toxicant. Some of the genes were closely related to endocrine disruption, renal and cardiovascular disease, tumorigenesis, immune responses, and detoxification. Our results will allow future studies to assess the molecular mechanisms of toxaphene toxicity and to develop a systems biology approach to environmental stress biology.

Permissible level of toxaphene residues in fish from the German market based on in vivo and in vitro effects to tumor promotion

Toxaphene is a chlorinated pesticide consisting of more than 200 congeners that are mainly chlorobornanes and chlorocamphenes. As the congeners exhibit different stability properties in the environment, only between 20 and 30 compounds can be observed in, e.g., fish, which are represented by technical toxaphene as a mixture. In human body, the congeners Parlar #26, #40, #41, #44, #50, and #62 are detected frequently. Three of them, #26, #50, and #62, pose a potential risk to human health due to their persistent characteristic. By using experimental results of a European Union study (MATT, 2000. Investigation into the Monitoring, Analysis and Toxicity of Toxaphene in Marine Foodstuffs, European Union, Brussels, Final report, FAIR CT PL.96.3131. Investigation into the Monitoring, Analysis and Toxicity of Toxaphene in Marine Foodstuffs), a reference dose related to tumor promotion was calculated for these representative persistent toxaphene congeners. In Germany, the sum of the congeners #26, #50, and #62 is defined as the official standard for toxaphene residues in food. In this work, different fish samples obtained from German markets were studied regarding their contamination with toxaphene congeners, presented either in sum, or as single constitutes. The obtained data were used to define the acceptable total concentration of the sum of Parlar #26, #50, and #62 with regard to prevention of tumor promotion in human. The results showed that the currently existing permissible level of the sum of these congeners (0.1 mg/kg) is higher than the acceptable concentration in fish samples determined by this work and calculated at ca. 0.090 mg/kg. It is therefore recommended to improve the permissible level of toxaphene in German food samples.

Na +K +-ATPase activity as a biomarker of toxaphene toxicity in Unio tumidus

In this study, the effect of toxaphene (camphechlor) on ATPase activity in the microsomal fraction of the Unio tumidus’s digestive gland was determined. Toxaphene is a man-made mixture consisting of polychlorinated monoterpens, predominantly bornanes. This compound was primarily used as an insecticide, but in 1982 was officially banned because of its destructive effects on human and animal health. Toxaphene can be transported in the air at long distances and can persist in air, soil and water for years revealing acute and chronic toxicity towards aquatic organisms and wildlife, the increasing risk of cancer in both humans and animals. The microsomal fraction isolated from digestive glands was exposed to 1 × 10 −3 M, 1 × 10 −5 M and 1 × 10 −7 M of toxaphene. The obtained data showed that toxaphene induced a loss of ATPase activity in all used concentrations. The Lineweaver–Burk plots for microsomal Na +K +-ATPase in the presence or the absence of toxaphene as an inhibitor indicated a competitive type of inhibition.

Toxaphene detoxification and acclimation in Daphnia magna: do cytochrome P-450 enzymes play a role?

Toxaphene is a persistent environmental contaminant that has been shown to alter male production in Daphnia magna and to induce P-450 activity in mammals. Cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism may lead to xenobiotic detoxification resulting in acclimation. To determine if D. magna acclimate to toxaphene via P-450 pathways, chronic and acute toxicity tests were conducted with D. magna exposed to toxaphene in the presence and absence of piperonyl butoxide (PBO), an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 enzymes. Toxaphene exposure increased male production in acute but not chronic assays, indicating that D. magna may acclimate to chronic toxaphene exposure. Upon co-administration of toxaphene and PBO in chronic tests, D. magna exhibited a decline in growth rate, fecundity and survival. The observed toxaphene acclimation in chronic tests, along with its increased toxicity in the presence of a P-450 suppressor, suggests that P-450 enzymes may contribute to detoxification and subsequent acclimation of D. magna to chronic toxaphene exposure. Additional chronic toxicity tests indicated that toxaphene acclimation occurs between 7 and 12 days following initial exposure, at which time sex determination is no longer affected. Thus, sublethal toxaphene toxicity effects such as reproductive impairments may be detectable with acute but not chronic tests, potentially due to the upregulation of P-450 isozymes.

Effect of toxaphene on reproduction of fish

The effect of Toxaphene on fish reproduction was investigated in sexually mature female zebrafish fed for two weeks with food contaminated with three different concentrations of the Pesticide (0.02, 0.23 and 2.2 μg/g fish/day). No overt differences were observed in reproductive success as assessed by examination of (a) total number of eggs spawned by each female, (b) percentage of fertilized eggs 24 hours after fertilization, (c) percentage of embryo mortality 72 hours after fertilization and (d) percentage of hatching 72 hours after fertilization. By contrast Toxaphene produced distinct effects of a dose response nature on oviposition. This observation is not only of interest with respect to Toxaphene, but also points to the importance of evaluating other pesticides for their effect on the oviposition of feral species that might be even more sensitive than zebrafish. Toxicity of Toxaphene was manifested both in the parent fish (skin discoloration, subcutaneous hemorrhages, particularly around the gill areas and backbones curved in the vertical plane) and in hatching embryos (half hatched).

Capillary GC-ECD and ECNI GCMS characterization of toxaphene residues in primate tissues during a feeding study

Toxaphene is a pesticide whose use was banned in North America because of concerns regarding its toxicity. To obtain better data on the metabolism and toxicity of toxaphene in primates, a one year feeding study was carried out in cynomologous monkeys at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day for one year. Levels of toxaphene residues in blood and adipose tissue during the dosing period were measured by GC-ECD and ECNI GCMS. The dosing toxaphene mixture was found to be extensively metabolized. Four chlorinated bornane congeners were the predominate residues found in the tissue samples. Blood levels of toxaphene residues plateaued at 40 ppb, adipose levels at approximately 4000 ppb. Kidney, liver, feces and urine were analyzed for toxaphene residues after necropsy.

Fossil record of cladoceran and algal responses to fishery management practices

SUMMARY1. We hypothesized that the fishery management practices of toxaphene application and trout stocking would affect non‐target organisms in lakes. Because these practices were rarely monitored in the past, cladoceran and algal assemblages were quantified in sediment cores from two lakes treated 30+ years ago to determine the long‐term response of organisms near the base of the food chain.2. Chydorids were remarkably resistant over the short term (a few years) in both the oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes despite toxaphene treatments that extirpated native fish and other invertebrates. In the oligotrophic lake (Annette Lake), six chydorid taxa were less abundant in the years following treatment, although no loss of species richness was detected. In the eutrophic lake (Chatwin Lake), the dominant Chydorus cf. sphaericus declined coincident with toxaphene treatment, but longer‐term declines of all taxa were probably related to food web or other changes rather than to toxaphene toxicity. Cause and effect coupling was complicated by the fact that many chydorids were present at low concentrations in some pretreatment samples.3. The algal communities (as fossil pigments) responded to treatment differently in the two lakes. In the oligotrophic lake, planktonic diatoms, dinoflagellates and chlorophytes were replaced as dominants by deep‐water or benthic blooming cryptophytes, chrysophytes and cyanobacteria. This shift occurred along with increases in large daphnids and the ‘grazing indicator’, pheophorbide a. While both lakes appear to have had enhanced pigment preservation following treatment, the eutrophic lake encountered few long‐term changes in its fossil pigment assemblage. Redundancy analysis estimated that the presence or absence of stocked trout explained much of the variation in the algal assemblages, particularly in the oligotrophic lake.4. Toxaphene remained elevated in profundal sediments from these lakes 30 and 35 years after treatment.

Long-term Invertebrate Community Response to Toxaphene Treatment in Two Lakes: 50-yr Records Reconstructed from Lake Sediments

Analysis of sediment cores from two toxaphene-treated and one untreated lake basin demonstrates both the short-term effect of toxaphene applied in 1961–62 and the longer term effect of subsequent trout stocking on invertebrates. In Chatwin Lake (higher toxaphene concentration), planktonic cladocerans decreased in abundance, and dominance quickly changed from small- to large-bodied types. Bosmina was reduced by 88% at the time of toxaphene application and was eliminated during the 1970's as invertebrate predators like Chaoborus americanus increased in response to the poor survival of stocked fish. Short-term toxic effects were not detectable in cores from Peanut Lake (lower toxaphene concentration). In both treated lakes, large invertebrates became dominant with the absence of native fish and during trout stocking. Chaoborus spp. remained at low levels throughout the 1960's in both treated lakes compared with the untreated lake, possibly due to residual toxaphene toxicity and/or to predation by stocked fish. Toxicity to total chironomids was not detected, although genera-specific responses were not analysed. While the higher toxaphene dosage caused residual toxicity in Chatwin Lake for at least a decade, the manipulation of fish communities was primarily responsible for long-term changes in the invertebrates of both lakes.

Toxicity of toxaphene in the rat and beagle dog

Residues of the insecticidal mixture, toxaphene, have been found in Great Lakes fish. The purpose of the present study was to assess the subchronic toxicity of toxaphene in the rat and beagle dog. In the rat study, groups of 10 male and 10 female animals were fed diets containing 0, 4, 20, 100, or 500 ppm of the test compound for 13 weeks. No clinical signs of toxicity or spontaneous deaths were observed. Toxaphene treatment up to 500 ppm had no effects on weight gain or food consumption. The liver/body weight ratio and hepatic microsomal enzyme activities (phenobarbital type) were increased in both sexes fed 500 ppm of the test compound. Toxaphene at the highest dose also caused kidney enlargement in male but not in female rats. Dose-dependent histological changes were seen in the kidney, thyroid, and liver. Changes in the liver and thyroid were considered to be adaptative but the injury in the proximal tubules of the kidney was focally severe. Groups of six male and six female beagle dogs were fed toxaphene in gelatin capsules at 0, 0.2, 2.0, and 5.0 mg/kg body wt/day for 13 weeks. Food consumption and growth rate were not affected. All animals survived the entire treatment period. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed. The liver/body weight ratio and serum alkaline phosphatase were increased in dogs of both sexes fed 5.0 mg/kg. Mild to moderate dose-dependent histological changes were observed in the liver and thyroid. Toxaphene was accumulated in a dose-dependent manner in the fat and liver of dogs and rats. Based on the biochemical, histological, and residue data, it was concluded that the no-adverse-effect levels of the pesticide were 4.0 ppm (0.35 mg/kg) for the rat and 0.2 mg/kg for the dog.

Toxicity of Toxaphene in the Rat and Beagle Dog

Toxicity of Toxaphene in the Rat and Beagle Dog. CHU, I., VILLENEUVE, D.C, SUN, C., SECOURS, V., PROCTER, B., ARNOLD, E., CLEGG, D., REYNOLDS, L., AND VALLI, V.E. (1986). Fundam Appl. Toxicol. 7, 406-418. Residues of the insecticidal mixture, toxaphene, have been found in Great Lakes fish. The purpose of the present study was to assess the subchronic toxicity of toxaphene in the rat and beagle dog. In the rat study, groups of 10 male and 10 female animals were fed diets containing 0, 4, 20, 100, or 500 ppm of the test compound for 13 weeks. No clinical signs of toxicity or spontaneous deaths were observed. Toxaphene treatment up to 500 ppm had no effects on weight gain or food consumption. The liver/body weight ratio and hepatic microsomal enzyme activities (phenobarbital type) were increased in both sexes fed 500 ppm of the test compound. Toxaphene at the highest dose also caused kidney enlargement in male but not in female rats. Dose-dependent histological changes were seen in the kidney, thyroid, and liver. Changes in the liver and thyroid were considered to be adaptative but the injury in the proximal tubules of the kidney was focally severe. Groups of six male and six female beagle dogs were fed toxaphene in gelatin capsules at 0, 0.2, 2.0, and 5.0 mg/kg body wt/day for 13 weeks. Food consumption and growth rate were not affected. All animals survived the entire treatment period. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed. The liver/body weight ratio and serum alkaline phosphatase were increased in dogs of both sexes fed 5.0 mg/kg. Mild to moderate dose-dependent histological changes were observed in the liver and thyroid. Toxaphene was accumulated in a dose-dependent manner in the fat and liver of dogs and rats. Based on the biochemical, histological, and residue data, it was concluded that the no-adverse-effect levels of the pesticide were 4.0 ppm (0.35 mg/kg) for the rat and 0.2 mg/kg for the dog.

Uptake and toxicity of toxaphene to cell cultures derived from goldfish (Carassius auratus).

Uptake and toxicity of toxaphene to cell cultures derived from goldfish (Carassius auratus).

Polychlorobornane components of toxaphene: structure-toxicity relations and metabolic reductive dechlorination.

2,2,5-endo,6-exo,8,9,10-Heptachlorobornane and four derivatives of this heptachlorobornane, with an additional chlorine atom at position 3-exo,8,9, or 10, account for a major portion of the acute toxicity of toxaphene and for up to 23 percent of toxaphene composition as analyzed by open tubular column gas-liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector. Both in several organisms and model environmental systems and on photolysis, this heptachlorobornane undergoes facile reductive dechlorination at the geminal-dichloro group and sometimes dehydrochlorination.

Uptake and toxicity of toxaphene in several estuarine organisms

The organochlorine insecticide, toxaphene, was tested in flow-through bioassays to evaluate its toxicity to estuarine organisms. The organisms tested and their respective 96-hr LC5Os (based on measured concentrations) are: pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), 1.4Μg/L; grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), 4.4Μg/L; sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), 1.1Μg/L; and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), 0.5Μg/L. Toxaphene concentration estimated to reduce shell deposition in American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) by 50% (EC50) was 16Μg/L. Concentration factors (concentration of toxaphene in tissues divided by concentration measured in water) for fishes and oysters in 96 hr ranged from 3,100 to 20,600 and for shrimp, from 400 to 1,200. Individuals from various ontogenetic stages of longnose killifish (Fundulus similis) were exposed to toxaphene for 28 days in flow-through bioassays. Toxaphene was toxic to embryos, fry, juveniles, and adult fish, but fertilization of ova in static tests was not affected by the concentrations tested (0.32 to 10Μg/L). The 28-day measured LC50s for all stages ranged from 0.9 to 1.4Μg/L. Toxaphene was accumulated in ova and other body tissues of the longnose killifish; concentration factors in ova were 1,000 to 5,500, and in whole-body tissues, 4,200 to 60,000.

3173. Toxaphene and the foetus: Chernoff N. & Carver B. D. (1976). Fetal toxicity of toxaphene in rats and mice. Bull. env. contain. & Toxicol. (U.S.)15, 660

3173. Toxaphene and the foetus: Chernoff N. & Carver B. D. (1976). Fetal toxicity of toxaphene in rats and mice. Bull. env. contain. & Toxicol. (U.S.)15, 660

Fetal toxicity of toxaphene in rats and mice

Fetal toxicity of toxaphene in rats and mice

The Effectiveness of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticide Mixtures for Control of Resistant and Susceptible Boll Weevils1

The toxicity of toxaphene and DDT alone and combined in various proportions on laboratory-reared toxaphene resistant and susceptible strains of the boll weevil was studied, Toxaphene-DDT mixtures exhibited synergistic effects on resistant weevils, but only additive effects for susceptible ones. A mixture of four parts toxaphene and one part DDT was the most effective combination tested against resistant weevils. A dosage of 5 to 15 micrograms of toxaphene in combination with DDT was required to produce 50% mortality of resistant weevils regardless of the amount of DDT in the combination. No evidence of synergism was found using mixtures of toxaphene with methoxychlor or DDE. A mixture of Strobane-DDT was slightly less effective than toxaphene-DDT, but the synergistic effect was evident with resistant weevils. Strobane® is a mixture of chlorinated terphenes with about 66% of chlorine. No evidence was found of seasonal tolerance in field-collected boll weevils to a 2-1 mixture of toxaphene-DDT.