Toxaphene effects

Mayer FL, Mehrle PM, Dwyer WP (1975) Toxaphene effects on reproduction, growth and mortality of brook trout. EPA-600/3-75-013. US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN... 

Concentrations of PCBs in fish from each of the Great Lakes currently exceed the GLWQA objectives for the protection of aquatic life. Similarly, concentrations of some substances (e.g., PCBs, Hg, mirex, toxaphene) in Great Lakes fish continue to exceed acceptable guidelines for human consumption. Documented effects in the Great Lakes include reproductive failure, congenital abnormalities and induction of tumours in various aquatic, terrestrial and avian species (23). 

Crowder LA, Lanzaro GC, Whitson RS. 1980. Behavioral effects of methyl parathion and toxaphene exposure in rats. J Environ Sci Health B15 365-378. 

Soto AM, Chung KL, Soimenschein C. 1994. The pesticides endosulfan, toxaphene, and dieldrin have estrogenic effects on human estrogen-sensitive cells. Environ Health Perspect 102(4) 380-383. 

Hoffman, D.J. and W.C. Eastin, Jr. 1982. Effects of lindane, paraquat, toxaphene, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-acetic acid on mallard embryo development. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 11 79-86. 

Toxaphene is extremely toxic to freshwater and marine biota. In laboratory tests of 96-h duration, 50% mortality was recorded for the most sensitive species of freshwater and marine teleosts, marine crustaceans, and freshwater insects at nominal water concentrations of less than 10 pg/L of toxaphene, and, in several cases, less than 1 pg/L (Table 27.2). Bioassays of longer duration, based on exposure of aquatic organisms for the entire or most of the life cycle, produced significant adverse effects on growth, survival, and reproduction at toxaphene concentrations between 0.025 and 1.0 pg/L (Table 27.3). Toxaphene was most toxic to freshwater fishes in soft water at elevated temperatures (Saleh 1991). Based on its high toxicity and extensive use, it is not surprising that toxaphene was considered a major cause of nationwide fish kills in 1977 (USEPA 1980b). 

Table 27.5 Sublethal Effects of Toxaphene to Aquatic Biota... 

Type of Medium, Organism Toxaphene Concentration in Medium (g/L [ppb]) Exposure Duration (days) Effect Reference"... 

Table 27.7 Sublethal Effects of Toxaphene on Selected Mammals...

Fed diets of >100 or >1000 mg toxaphene/kg ration for 12 weeks Liver pathology at >100 mg/kg ration and central nervous system effects at >1000 mg/kg diet 7... 

Pregnant females given toxaphene on days 6-15 of gestation at 32 mg/kg BW daily Maternal survival was 87% on day 8 and 50% on day 16. Survivors had weight loss in whole body, thymus, and spleen. Adverse developmental effect (supernumerary ribs) in litters 5... 

Toxaphene causes death and deleterious effects to nontarget aquatic biota at extremely low concentrations (i.e., <1.0 pg/L). 

There is an imperfect understanding of the fate and effects of individual toxaphene components. 

There is inadequate knowledge of interaction effects of toxaphene with other agricultural chemicals (especially when mixtures are applied simultaneously) and with other persistent compounds in aquatic ecosystems, such as PCBs, DDT and its isomers, and petroleum. 

Effects of inhalation and dermal exposure to toxaphene, especially studies of an intermediate or chronic exposure (USPHS 1994)... 

LABORATORY WHITE RAT Diet No adverse effect level Lowest adverse effect level (histological damage) 4.0 mg/kg ration, equivalent to 0.29-0.38 mg toxaphene/kg body weight daily (Chu etal. 1988) 20.0 mg/kg ration (Chu etal. 1988)... 

Bush, P.B., J.T. Kiker, R.K. Page, N.H. Booth, and O.J. Fletcher. 1977. Effects of graded levels of toxaphene on poultry residue accumulation, egg production, shell quality and hatchability in white leghorns. Jour. Agric. Food Chem. 25 928-932. 

Hall, R.J. and D. Swineford. 1980. Toxic effects of endrin and toxaphene on the southern leopard frog Rana sphenocephala. Environ. Pollut. 23A 53-65. 

Heinz, G.H. and M.T. Finley. 1978. Toxaphene does not effect avoidance behavior of young black ducks. Jour. Wildl. Manage. 42 408-409. 

Kreitzer, J.F. 1980. Effects of toxaphene and endrin at very low dietary concentrations on discrimination acquisition and reversal in bobwhite quail, Colinus virginianus. Environ. Pollut. 23A 217-230. 

Sanders, H.O. 1980. Sublethal Effects of Toxaphene on Daphnids, Scuds, and Midges. U.S. Environ. Protection Agency Rep. 600/3-80-006. 17 pp. 

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