Use Of Organochlorine Insecticides Research Articles

Sublethal Toxicity Effects of the Organochlorine Insecticide Endosulfan on Oxygen Consumption Level and Gill Histopathology of Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fry

The uncontrolled use of organochlorine insecticides in the agricultural sector has an impact on water pollution and threatens the lives of organisms in it. Pollutants can reduce water quality and interfere with the performance of fish organ systems, triggering stress and even death. The purpose of the study was to determine the sublethal effects of the organochlorine insecticide endosulfan on the level of oxygen consumption and histopathology of tilapia seed gills. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Airlangga, from March to May 2021. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) experimental method. The treatment used was exposure to organochlorine endosulfan doses of 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% with LC50-96 hours, which was observed for 28 days. Oxygen consumption data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance, followed by DMRT (Duncan's Multiple Range Test). While gill histopathology data were analyzed descriptively by comparing normal and abnormal gill histopathology. The results showed that the sublethal toxicity of the organochlorine insecticide endosulfan had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the level of oxygen consumption and had an impact on the histopathological condition of the tilapia seed gills. The types of gill damage found were oedema, hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, hemorrhage, and necrosis.

A prospective study of cancer risk among Agricultural Health Study farm spouses associated with personal use of organochlorine insecticides

BackgroundOrganochlorine insecticides (OCs) have historically been used worldwide to control insects, although most have now been banned in developed countries. Evidence for an association between OC exposures and cancer predominantly comes from occupational and population based-studies among men. We evaluated the association between the use of specific OCs and cancer among the female spouses of pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.MethodsAt enrollment (1993–1997), spouses of private applicators in the cohort provided information about their own use of pesticides, including seven OCs (aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, lindane, and toxaphene), and information on potential confounders. We used Poisson regression to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancers (n ≥ 3 exposed cases) reported to state cancer registries from enrollment through 2012 (North Carolina) and 2013 (Iowa), and use of the individual OCs, as well as use of any of the specific OCs.ResultsAmong 28,909 female spouses, 2191 (7.58%) reported ever use of at least one OC, of whom 287 were diagnosed with cancer. Most cancers were not associated with OC use. Risk of glioma was increased among users of at least one OC (Nexposed = 11, RR = 3.52, 95% CI 1.72–7.21) and specifically among lindane users (Nexposed = 3, RR = 4.45, 95% CI 1.36–14.55). Multiple myeloma was associated with chlordane (Nexposed = 6, RR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.12–6.55). Based on 3 exposed cases each, there were also positive associations between pancreatic cancer and lindane, and ER-PR- breast cancer and dieldrin. No other associations with breast cancer were found.ConclusionsOverall, there were some associations with OC use and cancer incidence, however we were limited by the small number of exposed cancer cases. Future research should attempt to expand on these findings by assessing environmental sources of OC exposures, to fully evaluate the role of OC exposures on cancer risk in women.

Organochlorine insecticides potentiate adipogenesis in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes

Use of organochlorine insecticides, such as 1,1,1,‐trichloro‐2,2‐ bis(p‐chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), have been banned in most developed countries due to their effects on wildlife populations and their persistence in the environment and foods. However, recently a potential link between exposures to organochlorine insecticides and development of obesity has been reported. Thus, we investigated the role of DDT and DDE (a metabolite of DDT and another organochlorine insecticide) on adipogenesis using 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. Cells were treated with either DDT or DDE (0, 10 & 20 μM) for 6 days of differentiation and markers of adipogenesis were analyzed. DDT and DDE treatments significantly potentiated lipid accumulation and gene expressions of adipogenic factors, CAATT element binding protein‐α (C/EBP‐α), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ, and fatty acid synthase. In addition, leptin and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) mRNA expressions were increased by DDT and DDE. The results suggest that organochlorine insecticides, particularly DDT & DDE, induce adipogenesis via C/EBP‐α mediated pathway.

Pesticide exposure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Our objectives were to summarize literature on the association of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with pesticides as a group and to evaluate associations of ALS with specific pesticides. We conducted a meta-analysis of published studies of ALS and pesticides as a group and investigated the association of ALS with specific pesticides, using data from the Agricultural Health Study (AHS), a cohort including 84,739 private pesticide applicators and spouses. AHS participants provided information on pesticide use at enrollment in 1993–1997. In mortality data collected through February 2010, ALS was recorded on death certificates of 41 individuals whom we compared to the remaining cohort (controls), using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age and gender to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. In the meta-analysis, ALS was associated with use of pesticides as a group (1.9, 1.1–3.1). In the AHS, ALS was not associated with pesticides as a group, but was associated with use of organochlorine insecticides (OCs) (1.6, 0.8–3.5), pyrethroids (1.4, 0.6–3.4), herbicides (1.6, 0.7–3.7), and fumigants (1.8, 0.8–3.9). ORs were elevated forever use of the specific OCs aldrin (2.1, 0.8–5.1), dieldrin (2.6, 0.9–7.3), DDT (2.1, 0.9–5.0), and toxaphene (2.0, 0.8–4.9). None of these associations was statistically significant. Similar results were observed in an analysis restricted to men. In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that ALS risk is associated with use of pesticides as a group, and our analysis of AHS data points to OC use in particular. The latter results are novel but based on a small number of cases and require replication in other populations.

Thyroidology and public health: The challenges ahead

Thyroidology and public health: The challenges ahead

Pesticide Use and Thyroid Disease Among Women in the Agricultural Health Study

Thyroid disease is common, and evidence of an association between organochlorine exposure and thyroid disease is increasing. The authors examined the cross-sectional association between ever use of organochlorines and risk of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism among female spouses (n = 16,529) in Iowa and North Carolina enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study in 1993-1997. They also assessed risk of thyroid disease in relation to ever use of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and fumigants. Prevalence of self-reported clinically diagnosed thyroid disease was 12.5%, and prevalence of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was 6.9% and 2.1%, respectively. There was an increased odds of hypothyroidism with ever use of organochlorine insecticides (adjusted odds ratio (OR(adj)) = 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0, 1.6) and fungicides (OR(adj) = 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1, 1.8) but no association with ever use of herbicides, fumigants, organophosphates, pyrethroids, or carbamates. Specifically, ever use of the organochlorine chlordane (OR(adj) = 1.3 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.7), the fungicides benomyl (OR(adj) = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.9, 5.1) and maneb/mancozeb (OR(adj) = 2.2 (95% CI: 1.5, 3.3), and the herbicide paraquat (OR(adj) = 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1, 2.8) was significantly associated with hypothyroidism. Maneb/mancozeb was the only pesticide associated with both hyperthyroidism (OR(adj) = 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2, 4.4) and hypothyroidism. These data support a role of organochlorines, in addition to fungicides, in the etiology of thyroid disease among female spouses enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study.

Occupational exposure to organochlorine insecticides and cancer incidence in the Agricultural Health Study.

Organochlorine (OC) insecticides have been regulated as possible human carcinogens primarily on the basis of animal studies. However, the epidemiologic evidence is inconsistent. We investigated the relationship between cancer incidence and OC insecticide use among pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study, a prospective cohort study of 57,311 licensed applicators in Iowa and North Carolina enrolled between 1993 and 1997. Information on ever use of 7 OC insecticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor, lindane, toxaphene) was collected from a self-administered questionnaire at enrollment. Lifetime exposure-days to OC insecticides were calculated using additional data from a take-home questionnaire completed by 25,291 participants (44% of total). We found no clear evidence of an association between use of OC insecticides and incident cancers (N = 1,150) ascertained through December, 2002. When we focused on individual insecticides and structurally similar groups (aldrin and dieldrin; chlordane and heptachlor), significantly increased relative risks of some cancers were observed for use of some chemicals (rectal cancer and chlordane, lung cancer and dieldrin, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and lindane, melanoma and toxaphene, leukemia and chlordane/heptachlor). Some significant decreased relative risks were also observed (colon cancer and aldrin; overall cancer and heptachlor). In conclusion, we did not observe any clear relationship between cancer risk and the use of OC insecticides. Our chemical-specific findings are based on small numbers and multiple comparisons, and should be interpreted with caution; however, some observed associations (lindane and NHL, chlordane/heptachlor and leukemia) are supported by previous evidence.

Organochlorine insecticide residues in surface and underground water from different regions of Bangladesh

The use of organochlorine insecticides (except heptachlor) for all agricultural and public health purposes was banned in Bangladesh by late 1993, although stocks could be used after that time and emergency use of limited quantities of DDT for plague control was permitted in 1994. Water samples from the different regions of Bangladesh were studied for organochlorine insecticide residues (OCs) during 1992–1995, both before and after the banning of the use of OCs. Packed column gas chromatographic (Electron Capture Detector mode) techniques were used and recovery was checked by monitoring the extraction of radio-labelled compounds with a Liquid Scintillation Counter. The results indicate slight contamination of some of the water samples of both surface and underground sources with residues of DDT, heptachlor, lindane and dieldrin. The majority of the samples, were found to be free from residues. Although use of heptachlor is allowed for specific purposes, its presence in surface water and ground water at levels well above WHO-recommended limits is a matter of concern. Appropriate remedial measures and systematic surveillance of heptachlor and other OC residues in water resources of the country are necessary to check further aggravation of the situation.

Organochlorine insecticide and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in martens and fishers from the Algonquin Region of South-Central Ontario

Use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine insecticides (OCI) has been restricted in the Province of Ontario, Canada, since 1971. This study reports on OCI and PCB levels in two carnivores, fishers (Martes pennanti) and martens (Martes americana), collected in the Algonquin Region of south-central Ontario in 1976 and 1981, and compares them to data collected for the same species in the same area in 1972-74. Algonquin Region is a forested area of 43,000 km{sup 2} on the Precambrian shield, and has no major industrial or agricultural development. Except for DDT, which was used in the 1950's and 1960's to control biting insects around tourist establishments, there has been little use of OCIs or PCBs in this area. Their occurrence in the Algonquin Region is most likely due to atmospheric transport.

Levels of organochlorine insecticides in milk of mothers from urban and rural areas of Botucatu, SP, Brazil.

The use of organochlorine insecticides has been common since the forties. But this has become a serious problem of public health, due to the fact that insecticides accumulate in tissues owing to their fat-soluble character, their persistence in the environment and their accumulation in the food-chain. The continuous development of gas chromatographic techniques allowed the detection of ppb levels of these insecticide residues. Studies with laboratory animals have been useful to establish the toxicity of these compounds. Human milk can be used as an evaluation index of environmental contamination by these insecticides, although the main objective of its analysis is to determine the amounts ingested by children. When evaluating the levels of organochlorine insecticides in human milk it is useful to establish where the mothers live. Theoretically, mothers who live in a rural area have much more contact with these insecticides, because they work directly in agriculture. Therefore, the risk of exposure by their nursing children will be even greater. In Brazil, farmers do not have enough knowledge to measure the risks brought about by their indiscriminate use. In addition, government programs for the control of rural endemic diseases still make use of DDT and HCH on a large scale.

Residue levels of organochlorine insecticides in lamb and beef from Baghdad.

The use of organochlorine insecticides for more than two decades in malaria control program in Iraq and neighbouring countries may result in the distribution of their persistent residues in the environment and biota in this region. The use of these compounds has been banned in Iraq officially in 1976, yet their residues are expected to remain for several years. Amonitoring program was proposed in 1981 by the Biological Research Centre in Baghdad to determine the residue levels of these compounds in the environment, food and human body.

Changes in serum hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) residues in malaria spraymen after short-term occupational exposure.

The use of organochlorine insecticides for public health programs is indisputably necessary in developing countries. Thus, there is a need to evaluate human response to these chemicals under local field conditions. The effects of a short-term, 16-wk exposure to hexachlorocyclohexane has been evaluated and compared in malaria spraymen with and without any previous occupational exposure to this insecticide by measuring the pre- and post-exposure serum hexachlorocyclohexane concentration. A significant increase in original serum hexachlorocyclohexane concentration. A significant increase in original serum hexachlorocyclohexane concentration was observed in subjects on their first occupational exposure (5X), compared to those with previous exposure (3X). All workers reached approximately the same serum levels within 16 wk, regardless of their history of previous exposure.

Organochlorine insecticide residues in amphibians and reptiles from iowa and lizards from the Southwestern United States

Ecosystems are generally contaminated with low levels of organochlorine insecticide residues. Numerous reports of residues in biota include relatively little data for amphibians and reptiles. To help fill this void, specimens of amphibians and reptiles were collected from 2 agricultural areas of Iowa, and lizards were collected from nonagricultural areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Iowa specimens came from a region with past use of organochlorine insecticides, particularly DDT as a general purpose insecticide and aldrin and heptachlor for control of soil-insect pests. CULLEY and APPLEGATE (1967) estimated insecticide concentrations in 3 species of lizards (checkered whiptail, Cnemidophorus tessellatus; western whiptail, ~. tigris; and little striped whiptail, ~. inornatus) collected from agricultural and desert areas in the vicinity of Presidio, TX. Residue data, presented as a composite for all 3 species of lizards and as mean concentrations of ~,~'-DDE (ppm) in 5 or 6 samples, were: 0.i to 7 (tail muscle), 0.3 to 3.8 (brain tissue), 0.i to 3.8 (liver), 5.4 to 46 (coelem fat bodies), and 0. i to 7.7 (stomach contents). There seemed to be little difference in concentrations between samples from various sites in cotton fields or

Veterinary aspects of insecticides: Organochlorines

Abstract Extract Many countries are in the process of phasing out large-scale use of organochlorine insecticides. Reasons for this policy can be summarized in terms of resistance, residues, and pollution, all of which stem from the property common to most organochlorines—persistence in the environment.

The role of termites in tropical forestry

Tropical forestry is influenced by termites in widely differing ways. Large mounds constructed byMacrotermes in Africa and Asia are ecological factors which influence the natural regeneration of forests and the vegetation patterns of savanna woodlands and grasslands. Economic losses in timber caused by termite attack on mature trees are restricted to those areas in Australia, Asia and Central America where particular species ofCoptotermes are present. Afforestation withEucalyptus in less humid areas of Africa, India and South America has been greatly facilitated by the use of organochlorine insecticides to protect seedlings and saplings from attack by ground-dwelling termites.