Selective toxicity target organism examples

Tables 2.6 and 2.7 give examples of the modes of action of pollutants in animals and in plants/fungi, respectively. It is noteworthy that many of the chemicals represented are pesticides. Pesticides are designed to be toxic to target species. On the other hand, manufacturers seek to minimize toxicity to humans, beneficial organisms and, more generally, nontarget species. Selective toxicity is an important issue. Regardful of the potential risks associated with the release of bioactive compounds into the environment, regulatory authorities usually require evidence of the mode of toxic action before pesticides can be marketed. Other industrial chemicals are not subject to such strict regulatory requirements, and their mode of action is frequently unknown.

Figure 12.63 provides another example of the diversity of metabolic processes to which pesticides are subjected after application. In the case of the carbamate insecticide carbaryl, the predominant processes are oxidation and hydrolysis, which maybe followed by conjugation of primary metabolites with glutathione. The character of metabolic transformations is closely related to the pesticide selectivity (toxicity) to target and non-target organisms. 

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