Hepatotoxic alterations induced by subchronic exposure of rats to formulated fenvalerate (20% EC) by nose only inhalation.
OBJECTIVE
Fenvalerate (20% EC) is a synthetic pyrethroid, which is commonly used in India by farmers for the protection of many food and vegetable crops against a wide variety of insects. However, its inhalation toxicity data is very limited in the literature due to the fact that the exposure levels associated with these effects were usually not reported. Hence, inhalation exposure was carried out to investigate the hepatotoxic effects.


METHODS
Adult male rats were exposed to fen for 4 h/day, 5 days a week for 90 days by using Flow Past Nose Only Inhalation Chamber. Sham treated control rats were exposed to compressed air in the inhalation chamber for the same period.


RESULTS
The results indicated hepatomegaly, increased activities of serum clinical enzymes (indicative of liver damage/dysfunction) along with pronounced histopathological damage of liver.


CONCLUSIONS
The hepatotoxic potential of formulated Fen (20% EC) in rats exposed by nose only inhalation is being reported for the first time and warrant adequate safety measures for human beings exposed to this insecticide, particularly by inhalation route.
Mani
U
U
Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory and Animal House, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, M. G. Marg, P. Box. No.80, Lucknow-226 001, India. uthmani@rediffmail.com
Prasad
A K
AK
Sureshkumar
V
V
Kumar
P
P
Lal
Kewal
K
Maji
B K
BK
Dutta
K K
KK
D000818:Animals; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017690:fenvalerate