Pesticide reproductive effects

Another section of the EPA, the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPT), has recently updated and harmonized its testing guidelines for evaluating the developmental and reproductive effects of pesticides and industrial chemicals to include an assessment of endocrine disrupting properties. These guidelines will be used in future testing of pesticides under both the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). 

In terms of toxicity, NIOSH recommends that endosulfan be recognized as a Group 1 Pesticide (NIOSH 1992). Pesticides in Group 1 pose a significant risk of adverse acute health effects at low concentrations or carcinogenic, teratogenic, neurotoxic, or reproductive effects (NIOSH 1992). 

Fry, D.M. (1995). Reproductive effects in birds exposed to pesticides and industrial-chemicals. Environmental Health Perspectives 103, 165-171. 

Episodic pollution events can adequately be addressed by acute toxicity bioassays, however these are not sufficient to investigate the water quality for delayed toxicity effects of chemicals present. Chronic effects of pesticides can include carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive effects (endocrine disruption). 

Host of the cyclic organohalogen pesticides studied are known or suspect animal carcinogens. The alkyl halide fumigants (methyl bromide, EDB, DBCP) are alkylating agents and mutagens, with adverse reproductive effects as well. 

For the sake of completeness, this chapter will also discuss the adverse reproductive effects of potential toxicants, such as ionizing radiation, pesticides and other organic environmental contaminants, as well as heavy metals, which are... 

SAFETY PROFILE Moderately toxic by ingestion, intraperitoneal, and skin contact routes. A skin irritant. Experimental reproductive effects. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fiimes of Cr, NOx, POx, and SO. A pesticide. 

Questionable carcinogen with experimental carcinogenic and tumorigenic data. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. A pesticide. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cl. See also CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS, ALIPHATIC. 

SAFETY PROFILE Poison by intravenous route. Moderately toxic by ingestion and skin contact. Human systemic effects coma, convulsions, dermatitis, mydriasis (pupiUar dilation), nausea or vomiting, stiffness. An eye and skin irritant. Experimental reproductive effects by skin contact. Mutation data reported. Can cause central nervous system disturbances. A pesticide. DEET is the active ingredient in most commercial insect repellents. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NO,. 

SAFETY PROFILE A deadly human poison by ingestion. An experimental poison by ingestion, inhalation, intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes. Moderately toxic by skin contact. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. Human systemic effects body temperature increase, change in heart rate, coma. A skin irritant. Mutation data reported. Phytotoxic. A pesticide. An explosive. Forms explosive salts with alkalies and ammonia. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx. See also NITRO COMPOUNDS of AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS. 

Some developmental or reproductive effects are thought to occur immediately after exposure to a pesticide or combination of pesticides, but they may not be apparent for some time after the exposure. For example, a birth defect may be seen only after the birth of a child, which may be several months after the exposure. 

Other developmental or reproductive effects are thought to result from repeated exposures to a pesticide or combination of pesticides over a period of time. 

The chlorinated pesticides DDT and chlordecone are known to generate deleterious reproductive effects. In a bioassay of these and other chlorinated pesticides on cultured human breast estrogen-sensitive MCF7 cells, it was shown that dieldrin, toxaphene, and endosulfan have estrogenic properties comparable to those of DDT and chlordecone. When tested together, the mixture of the three pesticides induced estrogenic responses... 

Pesticide chemicals are related to specific toxic effects. With the soil fumigants, reproductive effects and carcinogenicity are the main concern. With the carbamates, such as aldicarb, we are concerned with an acute toxic effect on the peripheral nervous system. With pentachlorophenol high acute toxicity and the potential for carcinogenicity are the main concerns. 

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