Table 3.
Biochemical effects of major organochlorine pesticides.
| Sl.No | Chemical name | Organism | Biochemical effects | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aldrin and Dieldrin | Human | Neurotoxic, reproductive, developmental,immunological, genotoxic, tumerogenic effects, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching and aplastic anemia | USEPA, 2003 |
| Mouse, rat, guniea pig, rabbit and dog | Convulsions, loss in body weight, depression, increased irritability, salivation, hyperexitability, prostration and death | |||
| 2 | Chlordane | Human | Convulsions, tremor, mental confusion and incoordination | ATSDR, 1997 |
| Mice | Reduced fertility, liver cancer | |||
| Seals | Cancer, trauma, meningocephalitis | Kajiwara et al., 2000 | ||
| 3 | BHC/ DDE | Human | Cyst in hands, itching, psoriasis, eczema, leucoderma, skin rashes | Subramaniam & Solomon, 2006 |
| 4 | DDT | Human | Prickling sensation of the mouth, nausea, dizziness, confusion, headache, lethargy, incoordination, vomiting, fatigue, tremors in the extremities, anorexia, anemia, muscular weakness, hyperexcitability, anxiety, and nervous tension | Klaassen et al., 1996 |
| Mice | Liver tumors, liver changes including hepatocellular hypertrophy, margination and formation of lipospheres. | WHO, 1979 | ||
| Birds | Egg shell thinning | USEPA, 1975 | ||
| Fish | Affects membrane function and enzymes | |||
| Salmons | Impaired behavioral development | |||
| 5 | Diazion | Rats | Neurotoxicity | USEPA, 2000 Peterson & Talcot, 2006 |
| Reptiles, fishes and Mammals | Lacrimation, salivation, anorexia, bradycardia, abdominal pain, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression and vomiting | |||
| Birds | Wing spasms, wing drop, hunched back, tenesmus, diarrhea, ptosis of eyelid, prostration, opisthotonos-like seizures or wing-beat convulsions. | |||
| Human | Dark or blurred vision, anxiety and restlessness, as well as psychiatric symptoms such as depression, memory loss, and confusion and acute pancreatitis. | Reigert & Roberts, 1999 Wagner, 1997 USEPA, 2000 |
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| 6 | Dicofol | Rats | Decrease in body weight and acute neurotoxicity | Phang et al., 1996 |
| Dogs | Inhibition of ACTH (Adrenal cortical tropic hormone) | |||
| 7 | Endosulfan | Human | Decreases the white blood cell count and macrophage migration, adverse effects on humoral and cell-mediated immune system. Affects semen quality, sperm count, spermatogonial cells, sperm morphology and other defects in male sex hormones DNA damage and mutation | Pandey et al., 1990 Susan & Sania, 1999 Singh et al., 2007 |
| Rats | Immunosuppression, neurological disorders, congenital birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, mental retardation, impaired learning and memory loss and glomerulonephritis | Stockholm Convention, 2009 | ||
| 8 | Lindane | Human | Damage human liver, kidney, neural and immune systems, and induces birth defects cancer, cause neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and hepatotoxicity | Sahoo et al., 2008, Bano & Bhatt, 2010 Vijaya Padma et al., 2011 |
| Rats | Alters gene expression of liver and hepatotoxicity | Sumida et al., 2007 Videla et al., 2004 |
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| 9 | Methoxychlor | Sea Urchins | Fertilization and early development of eggs | Pesando et al., 2004 |
| Rats | Reduced fertility | Cummings & Gray, 1989 | ||
| 10 | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) | Human | Neurological disorders and short term memory | |
| Fishes, rats, monkeys and mice | Cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, decreased birth weight and decreased size of thymus gland | Jacobson & Jacobson, 1996 USEPA, 1996 | ||
| 11 | Pentachlorophenol | Human | Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and bronchitis, blood effects such as aplastic anemia, effects on the kidney and liver, immunological effects, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and skin | ATSDR, 1999 |
| Rats and Mice | Effects the cardiovascular system, blood, liver, immune system, and central nervous system (CNS) |