No abstract

A comparative study between five organophosphorus insecticides: Leptophos, EPN, Cyanofenphos, Chlorpyrifos and Diazinon, was carried out for acute oral toxicity to white rats and for their in vivo interaction at 1/10th of LD50 doses with the activity of six serum enzymes after 4 wks from oral administration. Leptophos, Chlorpyrifos and diazinon exerted significant inhibition particularly to glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamyltransferase (GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Adding ascorbic acid in the diet at 0.5% enhanced the acute oral toxicity of leptophos, chlorpyrifos and diazinon. For all the compounds, presence of ascorbic acid protected a number of the monitored serum enzymes from being inhibited except for leptophos. Ascorbic acid caused hypoglycemia with sublethal doses of leptophos, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon. The synergist piperonyl butoxide alone at 750 mg/kg dose inhibited the activity of the six serum enzymes. Presence of ascorbic acid in the diet intensified the inhibitory effect of piperonyl butoxide to all enzymes except for GOT.

Two spraymen working in public health occupations in Alexandria, Egypt, experienced acute toxicity resulting from exposure to diazinon. Symptomatology was similar to that previously reported for exposure to parathion or other organophosphorus insecticides. Plasma and red blood cell cholinesterase activity values were determined in blood samples obtained from both individuals at various times after the incident. Cholinesterase activity showed a marked reduction up to 18 days after exposure. Blood cholinesterase activity recovered to approximately 90% of the normal level of activity 28 days after the poisoning incident in one individual. This activity recovered to about the same level in the other individual, but after only 20 days from the poisoning date. Experimental results suggested that this acute toxicity resulted from unsuitable storage conditions of the emulsifiable concentrate formulation of diazinon. The diazinon that was applied was stored in "tin" containers made of tin-plated sheet steel. The emulsifiable concentrate (60%) was not in compliance with the World Health Organization's standard specifications regarding the emulsion stability tests because of the presence of crystals in the emulsifiable concentrate. A sample of this crystalline material was analyzed. Gas chromatographic analysis combined with mass spectrometric techniques failed to identify intact diazinon in samples of that material. The sample represented virtually complete conversion of diazinion into transformation products. Sulfotepp and monothiono-TEPP were two of the identified products in the sample, both of which are much more toxic than diazinon.

Male Baladi rabbits were acutely and sub-chronically intoxicated with cyanofenphos and profenophos. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, B-lipoproteins and total proteins were determined in the serum, brain, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of rabbits. Moreover, the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were determined in the liver of the animals. The whole studies revealed that the biochemical constituents were highly affected by the tested insecticides. Also, the liver function suffered from adverse effects of the tested insecticides.

The three S-n-propyl phosphates and phosphothioates: RH 218, profenofos and prothiophos were compared with fenitrothion in their potential as inhibitors of rat liver and brain AChE. Fenitrothion was more potent as an inhibitor than the three S-n-propyl derivatives. Incubation of hepatic protein enhanced ChE inhibition in brain in the case of fenitrothion, while it reduced the inhibitory effect of the S-n-propyl derivatives. On the other hand, the four organophosphorus esters caused hypoglycemia in both male and female rats and also reduced their blood urea with different degrees.