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Safety of Natural Insecticides: Toxic Effects on Experimental Animals. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:4308054. [PMID: 30410930 PMCID: PMC6206511 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4308054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Long-term application and extensive use of synthetic insecticides have resulted in accumulating their residues in food, milk, water, and soil and cause adverse health effects to human and ecosystems. Therefore, application of natural insecticides in agriculture and public health sectors has been increased as alternative to synthetic insecticides. The question here is, are all natural insecticides safe. Therefore, the review presented here focuses on the safety of natural insecticides. Natural insecticides contain chemical, mineral, and biological materials and some products are available commercially, e.g., pyrethrum, neem, spinosad, rotenone, abamectin, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), garlic, cinnamon, pepper, and essential oil products. It can induce hepatotoxicity, renal toxicity, hematotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and oxidative stress. It can induce mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity in mammals. Some natural insecticides and active compounds from essential oils are classified in categories Ib (Highly hazardous) to U (unlikely toxic). Therefore, the selectivity and safety of natural insecticides not absolute and some natural compounds are toxic and induce adverse effects to experimental animals. In concussion, all natural insecticides are not safe and the term "natural" does not mean that compounds are safe. In this respect, the term "natural" is not synonymous with "organic" and not all-natural insecticide products are acceptable in organic farmers.
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Wong B, Lewandowski R, Tressler J, Sherman K, Andres J, Devorak J, Rothwell C, Hamilton T, Hoard-Fruchey H, Sciuto AM. The physiology and toxicology of acute inhalation phosphine poisoning in conscious male rats. Inhal Toxicol 2017; 29:494-505. [PMID: 29251003 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2017.1406564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Phosphine (PH3) is a toxidrome-spanning chemical that is widely used as an insecticide and rodenticide. Exposure to PH3 causes a host of target organ and systemic effects, including oxidative stress, cardiopulmonary toxicity, seizure-like activity and overall metabolic disturbance. A custom dynamic inhalation gas exposure system was designed for the whole-body exposure of conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 g) to PH3. An integrated plethysmography system was used to collect respiratory parameters in real-time before, during and after PH3 exposure. At several time points post-exposure, rats were euthanized, and various organs were removed and analyzed to assess organ and systemic effects. The 24 h post-exposure LCt50, determined by probit analysis, was 23,270 ppm × min (32,345 mg × min/m3). PH3 exposure affects both pulmonary and cardiac function. Unlike typical pulmonary toxicants, PH3 induced net increases in respiration during exposure. Gross observations of the heart and lungs of exposed rats suggested pulmonary and cardiac tissue damage, but histopathological examination showed little to no observable pathologic changes in those organs. Gene expression studies indicated alterations in inflammatory processes, metabolic function and cell signaling, with particular focus in cardiac tissue. Transmission electron microscopy examination of cardiac tissue revealed ultrastructural damage to both tissue and mitochondria. Altogether, these data reveal that in untreated, un-anesthetized rats, PH3 inhalation induces acute cardiorespiratory toxicity and injury, leading to death and that it is characterized by a steep dose-response curve. Continued use of our interdisciplinary approach will permit more effective identification of therapeutic windows and development of rational medical countermeasures and countermeasure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wong
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Rebecca Lewandowski
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Justin Tressler
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Katherine Sherman
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Jaclynn Andres
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Jennifer Devorak
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Cristin Rothwell
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Tracey Hamilton
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Heidi Hoard-Fruchey
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
| | - Alfred M Sciuto
- a Medical Toxicology Research Division , US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense , Aberdeen Proving Ground , MD , USA
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Türkez H, Toğar B. Aluminium phosphide-induced genetic and oxidative damages in vitro: attenuation by Laurus nobilis L. leaf extract. Indian J Pharmacol 2013; 45:71-5. [PMID: 23543905 PMCID: PMC3608299 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.106439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Revised: 10/03/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The present investigation was undertaken to assess the protective effect of Laurus nobilis leaf extract (LNE) against aluminum phosphide (AIP)-induced genotoxic and oxidative damages stress in cultured human blood cells in the presence of a metabolic activator (S9 mix). Materials and Methods: Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosome aberration (CA) assays were used to assess AlP-induced genotoxicity and to establish the protective effects of LNE. In addition, we determined total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) levels in AlP and LNE treated cultures for biomonitoring the oxidative alterations. Results: There was significant increases (P < 0.05) in both SCE and CA frequencies of cultures treated with AlP as compared to controls. Our results also showed that AlP (58 mg/l) caused oxidative stress by altering TAC and TOS levels. However, co-application of LNE (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l) and AlP resulted in decreases of SCE, CA rates and TOS level and increases of TAC level as compared to the group treated with AlP alone. Conclusion: The preventive role of LNE in alleviating AlP-induced DNA and oxidative damages was indicated for the first time in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Türkez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Türkez H, Toğar B. Aluminum phosphide-induced genetic and oxidative damages in rats: attenuation by Laurus nobilis leaf extract. Toxicol Ind Health 2012; 29:579-83. [PMID: 22294441 DOI: 10.1177/0748233711433942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is a colorless, flammable, liquefied pesticide that is commonly used to control insects, nematodes, weeds, and pathogens in crops, forests, ornamental nurseries, and wood products. Early investigations of AlP-poisoned mammalian cells led to the proposed involvement of oxidative damage in its toxicity mechanism. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Laurus nobilis (L) leaf extract (LNE) against AlP-induced genetic and oxidative damages in rats. Selected animals were assigned to four groups (n = 6), namely, group A: control (only distilled water is injected); group B: AlP (4 mg kg(-1) injected intraperitoneally (i.p.)); group C: LNE (200 mg kg(-1) injected i.p.), and group D: AlP plus LNE, respectively. The experimental period lasted for 14 successive days. Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and micronucleus (MN) assay were used for monitoring genotoxic damage. In addition, biochemical parameters such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) were examined in serum samples to determine oxidative damage. Our results indicated that AlP caused increase in CA and MN assay rates and alterations in TAC and TOS levels when compared with control group. On the contrary, LNE did not change the rates of both the analyzed cytogenetic end points and led to increase in TAC level. Moreover, we observed that LNE suppressed the genetic damage by AlP to bone marrow cells in vivo. Interestingly AlP-induced oxidative stress was also strongly reduced by LNE. The results of the present study indicated that the protective effect of LNE might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Türkez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Erzurum Technical University, Turkey
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Pepelko B, Seckar J, Harp PR, Kim JH, Gray D, Anderson EL. Worker exposure standard for phosphine gas. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2004; 24:1201-1213. [PMID: 15563288 DOI: 10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00519.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The 1998 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) re-registration eligibility decision (RED) for phosphine fumigants has generated much interest in defining safe levels of exposure for workers and worker bystanders. This report summarizes the pertinent literature on phosphine toxicity, including animal inhalation studies and human epidemiology studies, and also describes a margin-of-exposure (MOE) analysis based on available worker exposure data. In addition, a safe occupational exposure limit is estimated using typical OPP assumptions, after determination of appropriate uncertainty factors, based on quality of data in the principal study and pharmacokinetic considerations. While a conservative 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 0.1 ppm was calculated, the overall weight of evidence, from a risk-management perspective, supports a conclusion that an occupational TWA of 0.3 ppm provides adequate health protection. In addition, a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 3 ppm was estimated. Finally, in contrast to the MOE analysis described in the OPP's phosphine RED, the MOE analysis described herein does not indicate that fumigation workers are currently being exposed to unacceptable levels of phosphine. Collectively, these findings support the occupational exposure limits of 0.3 ppm (8-hour TWA) and 1 ppm (STEL) established in the updated applicator's manuals for phosphine-generating products, which recently received approval from OPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Pepelko
- Sciences International, Inc., Alexandria, VA 22134-2802, USA
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Tucker JD, Moore DH, Ramsey MJ, Kato P, Langlois RG, Burroughs B, Long L, Garry VF. Multi-endpoint biological monitoring of phosphine workers. Mutat Res 2003; 536:7-14. [PMID: 12694741 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5718(03)00014-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The pesticide phosphine (PH(3)) is a suspected carcinogen and a known clastogen which has been shown to produce chromosome damage in agricultural workers. To confirm and extend these results we evaluated 22 phosphine appliers and 26 controls matched for age and smoking status. Two independent methods were used to evaluate exposure: fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with whole-chromosome paints of chromosomes 1, 2, and 4 labeled in a single color to quantify translocations in peripheral lymphocytes, and the glycophorin A (GPA) assay to quantify phenotypically mutant (NØ or NN) erythrocytes. No differences in the frequency of translocations were found in the phosphine appliers compared to the controls, and no effect of cigarette smoking was observed. However, a significant increase in the frequency of translocations with age (P<0.0001) was seen. No effect of phosphine exposure or cigarette smoking was observed in the GPA assay. These results are in contrast to previous findings from this same population which showed an increase in chromosome aberrations among phosphine appliers. The results are most easily interpreted as supporting the effectiveness of the personal protective equipment that is now worn by the workers but which was not employed prior to and during the earlier studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Tucker
- Biology and Biotechnology Research Program, P.O. Box 808, L-448 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
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Abstract
The evidence for mammalian germ cell mutagenicity induced by anticancer drugs is summarized. Primary attention is paid to the three major mouse germ cell mutagenicity tests- the dominant lethal, heritable translocation, and morphological specific locus tests- from which most germ cell mutagenicity data historically have been obtained. Of the 21 anticancer drugs reviewed, 16 have been tested in one or more of these three tests; with all 16 tested in the most common germ cell test, the male dominant lethal test, and 9 of the 16 also tested in the female dominant lethal test. The patterns of germ cell stage specificity for most of the anticancer drugs are similar, and generally resemble the patterns seen with other types of chemicals; however, some of the patterns are unique. For example, 2 of the 8 chemicals shown to induce dominant lethal mutations in female oocytes, do not induce dominant lethal mutations in male germ cells (adriamycin and platinol). Ten of the 16 chemicals tested in the dominant lethal test were positive in post-meiotic stages (spermatids through mature sperm), and seven also induced reciprocal translocations and/or specific locus mutations in post-meiotic stages. This propensity to induce mutations in post-meiotic stages has been observed with most mutagens. However, 5 of the anticancer drugs also induced dominant lethal mutations in spermatocytes (meiotic prophase cells) and one of them, 6-mercaptopurine, uniquely induced dominant lethal mutations exclusively in preleptotene spermatocytes. Finally, three of the anticancer drugs (melphalan, mitomycin C, procarbazine) are members of a very select group of chemicals shown to induce specific locus mutations in spermatogonial stem cells of mice. The implications for human risk are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Witt
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, TN 37831-0117, USA.
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