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Toxicity evaluation of chlorpyrifos and diuron below maximum residue limits in rabbits

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Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated the toxicological aspects of chlorpyrifos and diuron concentrations below maximum residue limit (MRL) in rabbits, determined their residues associated with the toxicological aspects and modeled the toxicity.

Methods

Single- and repeated-dose toxicity tests were employed using white rabbits as experimental animals. In both toxicity tests, rabbit responses were evaluated by monitoring their body weight, various growth factors, activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and activities of liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Various kidney functions (urea, uric acid, creatinine and total protein concentration) were evaluated. Pesticide residues were also determined by GC.

Results

Repeated-dose toxicity test of chlorpyrifos and diuron significantly reduced the body, liver and heart weights compared with those of the control group (p = 0.045). Both tests reduced the serum AChE, AST and ALT activities and increased ALP activity. On the other hand, the tested compounds increased the uric acid and urea concentrations and reduced the creatinine concentration in the blood serum. Chlorpyrifos was detected in blood, kidney and manure samples whereas diuron was detected in liver tissues and blood samples.

Conclusions

Concentrations of chlorpyrifos and diuron far below MRL values generated various toxic effects in rabbits, indicating a possible health risk.

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Abbreviations

LD50:

Lethal dose required to kill 50% of tested organisms

MRL:

Maximum residue limit

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AChE:

Acetylcholinesterase

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

IUPAC:

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

OECD:

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to give special thanks to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for providing a Research Fellowship to Leipzig University and the BAM Institute Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The Islamic University Gaza, P.O. Box 1175, Gaza, Palestine

    Yasser El-Nahhal, Raaed Lubbad & Mohammad R. Al-Agha

Authors
  1. Yasser El-Nahhal
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  2. Raaed Lubbad
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  3. Mohammad R. Al-Agha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasser El-Nahhal.

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Conflict of interest

Yasser El-Nahhal, Raaed Lubbad and Mohammad R. Al-Agha declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the research committee of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine at The Islamic University Gaza.

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El-Nahhal, Y., Lubbad, R. & Al-Agha, M.R. Toxicity evaluation of chlorpyrifos and diuron below maximum residue limits in rabbits. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 12, 177–190 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-020-00015-z

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