Acute toxicity cyclodienes

Some data on cyclodiene toxicity is presented in Table 5.9. Aldrin and dieldrin have similar levels of acute toxicity indeed, the toxicity of aldrin has been largely attributed to its stable metabolite, dieldrin. Dieldrin is highly toxic to fish, mammals. 

Poisonings resulting in convulsions have occurred in manufacturing workers. Recovery after occupational exposures is usually complete within 24 hours. Unlike dieldrin, which persists in the body, endrin is rapidly eliminated from the body and apparently does not accumulate, even in fatty tissue. However, endrin is the most acutely toxic of the cyclodiene compounds, which also include chlordane, heptachlor, dieldrin, and aldrin. ... 

Recent studies have grouped lindane with the cyclodienes on the basisLjaf its potent and stereospecific inhibition of [3H]DHPTX (.2,3) and [3DS]TBPS (4 J>) binding. However, the quantitative correlations between potency in the chloride flux assay, potency in the [3 >S]TBPS binding assay, and acute toxicity that were observed for the cyclodienes do not extend to lindane. Lindane was a very weak inhibitor of chloride uptake (I 1 mM J7). Inclusion of the data... 

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