Organochlorine poisoning

Pesticide containers are frequently reused for food storage. In 1988, 167 people were treated for acute organochlorine poisoning symptoms after eating cheese fermented in barrels that previously contained cotton pesticides two people died from their symptoms. 

Exposure Levels in Humans. Metabolism of endrin in humans is relatively rapid compared with other organochlorine pesticides. Thus, levels in human blood and tissue may not be reliable estimates of exposure except after very high occupational exposures or acute poisonings (Runhaar et al. 1985). Endrin was not found in adipose tissue samples of the general U.S. population (Stanley 1986), or in adipose breast tissue from breast cancer patients in the United States (Djordjevic et al. 1994). Endrin has been detected in the milk of lactating women (Alawi et al. 1992 Bordet et al. 1993 Dewailly et al. 1993), but no data from the United States could be located. Data on the concentrations of endrin in breast milk from U.S. women would be useful. No information was found on levels of endrin, endrin aldehyde, or endrin ketone in blood and other tissues of people near hazardous waste sites. This information is necessary for assessing the need to conduct health studies on these populations. 

In addition, chlorine derivatives are important as intermediates in the chemical industry, and there are numerous chlorine-containing pharmaceuticals for which no substitutes are presently available. Furthermore, organochlorine compounds, some very toxic, do occur naturally on a large scale. Clearly, however, we must endeavor to avoid adding unnecessarily to the natural load of toxins as the old adage goes, it is the dose that makes the poison.4 Certainly, problems exist that require an intelligent and chemically informed resolution, but the total ban advocated by some on the use of chlorine and chlorinated compounds is neither necessary nor acceptable. 

The OP and carbamate insecticides are relatively nonpersistent in the environment. They are applied to the crop or directly to the soil as systemic insecticides, and they generally persist from only a few hours to several months. Thus these compounds, in contrast to the organochlorine insecticides, do not represent a serious problem as contaminants of soil and water and rarely enter the human food chain. Being esters, the compounds are susceptible to hydrolysis, and their breakdown products are generally nontoxic. Direct contamination of food by concentrated compounds has been the cause of poisoning episodes in several countries. 

Organochlorine pesticides are nerve poisons in both insects and mammals. Action mechanisms are complex and not yet fully understood. They have been shown to have estrogen-like effects (ref. 84a), to inhibit testicular growth and secondary sex characteristics in cockerels and mice (DDT), to induce persistent estrus in rats, and to affect fertility, gestation, lactation and survival times. 

Roberts, D.M., Dissanayake, W., Sheriff, M.H.R., Eddleston, M., 2004. Refractory status epilepticus following self-poisoning with the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan. J. Clin. Neurosci. 11, 760-762. 

Toxicity The acute oral LD50 and dermal LD50 toxicity of toxaphene in rats are 40 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. Toxaphene is an active nerve poison and interferes with fluxes of cations across nerve cell membranes, which increases neuronal irritability and results in convulsions and seizures. Toxaphene also has been found to damage the lungs, liver, and kidney of animals and humans. Although the dermal adsorption efficiency of toxaphene is less than that of other organochlorines, its absorption is enhanced by fat and fat solvents. Toxaphene has been shown to cause cancer in pregnant animals and to induce birth defects.68... 

The adverse human impacts of PCBs have been investigated in occupationally exposed workers as well as individuals poisoned with PCB-contaminated rice oil in Japan and Taiwan (Yusho and Yu-Cheng poisonings).91,107-109 In addition, recent studies have shown a correlation with in utero exposure to PCBs and subtle neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioural deficits in children.110 These effects were observed in children with relatively low-level environmental exposure to PCBs and thus have raised concerns regarding the potential adverse effects of low level in utero exposure to organochlorine compounds during critical periods of foetal development. 

Poisoning by endosulfan has caused blindness in sheep. Mirex at high dosage produces cataracts in rats and mice. The DDT analogue known as DDD is selectively concentrated in adrenal tissue, where high levels have an inhibitory effect on corticosteroid synthesis, and a damaging effect on the cells. Certain other organochlorines are also bioconcentrated in the adrenal cortex. 

DDT or 1,1-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)bis [4-chlorobenzene] Organochlorine Nerve poison, affecting sodium balance of nerve membranes, nonsystemic contact and stomach action Mosquito control for malaria eradication for crop use replaced by less persistent products 11-21... 

Endrin is more highly toxic than other organochlorine insecticides. The major target is the CNS. Major symptomatology is exemplified by rapid onset of violent epileptiform convulsions in severe poisoning cases. The onset may occur as rapidly as 0.5 h or delayed as much as lOh after ingestion of contaminated food. Other symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nervousness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. 

Dietary lipids play a unique role in the toxicity of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. Dietary lipids may favor more absorption of these pesticides, but once these chemicals are absorbed into the body, they may be stored in the adipose tissue without manifestation of toxicity. For this reason, obesity in humans is considered protective against chronic toxicity of these chemicals. Similarly, the body fat in a well-fed animal is known to store organochlorine pesticides. Fat mammals, fish, and birds are thus more resistant to DDT poisoning than their thinner counterparts. In times of food deprivation, however, organic materials such as DDT and PCB can be mobilized from mammalian fat deposits and can reach concentrations potentially toxic to the animal. 

The banning of DDT and other eommonly used organochlorine (OC) pestieides led to inereascd use of other, more acutely toxic synthetic compounds that were also effective in pest control but were much less persistent in the environment. Subsequently, several cases of pesticide poisoning, including the Bhopal disaster in India, have been reported (Gupta, 2fKM). 

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