Application of Biodegradable Pesticides in India
287
metabolites such as nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and tryptophan during embryonic development could also be responsible for the toxic manifestation. Inadvertent use of malathion for the control of ectoparasites in poUltry has resulted
in their large-scale killing (Chawla et al., 1977). Malathion inhibited brain
cholinesterase activity in house sparrows (Mehrotra et al., 1967). A correlation
has been found with the aging of house sparrows and inhibition of rat brain
esterase by different organophosphorus compounds (Mehrotra and Singh, 1972).
Telodrin produced varying degrees of degenerative hemorrhagic changes in the
liver and kidney of cockerels (Verma et al., 1967). Metabolic effects of DDT
in earthworms and snails, toxic effects of various insecticides in bees and the
effect of malathion on enzyme activities of acetylcholinesterase, asparatate, and
alanine aminotransferase in snails have also been reported (Yadav et al .• 1976;
Agarwal et al., 1978; Dale, 1975; Kapil and Lamba, 1974; Singh et al .• 1974;
Yadav et al .• 1978; Ahmed et al .• 1978). Carbaryl, phosphamidon, and endosulfan significantly inhibit the activity of gut amylase, acetylcholinesterase of
cerebral ganglion, and coelomic fluid of earthworms both in vivo and in vitro
(Dikshith et al .• unpublished data).
10.9.3. Toxicity to Animals
Ingestion of insecticide-contaminated forage crops by animals leads to buildup
of residues in the body fat of such animals. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are by far
the most common residues found in milk, since they are concentrated and stored
in the fat in animals and translocated to the milk fat. It was reported as early as
1947 that DDT residues appeared in the milk of cows that ingested feed treated
with the insecticide (Carter, 1947). Since that time, DDT, dieldrin, BHC, lindane, chlordane, heptachlor, aldrin, endrin, and toxaphene have all been detected
in milk when the feed of the cow has been treated with these compounds at
levels necessary to control the insect pests. In contrast, organophosphorus compounds have not shown such residual effects. The work of Cook (1957) indicates
that the absence of residues in the milk of cows fed with organophosphorus
compounds is due to the inactivation of the compound by the rumen fluid of the
cow.
Insecticides can be detected in blood after exposure. DDT, dieldrin, and lindane have been identified in the blood of most of the examined animals (Schafer,
1968). Toxicological effects, metabolism, and persistence of lindane have been
explored in laboratory animals and domestic goats (Anonymous, 1964; Gopalaswamy and Aiyar, 1977; Datta, 1978; Datta and Dikshith, unpublished data). The
stimulatory effects of organochlorine insecticides on protein biosynthesis altered the
general metabolism and mixed-function oxidases (Bhatia et al .• 1971, 1972; Bhatia and Subramanian, 1972a.b; Bhatia et al .• 1973; Kohli et al .• 1977; Krishnamurthyetal .• 1965; Somasundarametal .• 1978; Rao, 1975).
287
metabolites such as nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and tryptophan during embryonic development could also be responsible for the toxic manifestation. Inadvertent use of malathion for the control of ectoparasites in poUltry has resulted
in their large-scale killing (Chawla et al., 1977). Malathion inhibited brain
cholinesterase activity in house sparrows (Mehrotra et al., 1967). A correlation
has been found with the aging of house sparrows and inhibition of rat brain
esterase by different organophosphorus compounds (Mehrotra and Singh, 1972).
Telodrin produced varying degrees of degenerative hemorrhagic changes in the
liver and kidney of cockerels (Verma et al., 1967). Metabolic effects of DDT
in earthworms and snails, toxic effects of various insecticides in bees and the
effect of malathion on enzyme activities of acetylcholinesterase, asparatate, and
alanine aminotransferase in snails have also been reported (Yadav et al .• 1976;
Agarwal et al., 1978; Dale, 1975; Kapil and Lamba, 1974; Singh et al .• 1974;
Yadav et al .• 1978; Ahmed et al .• 1978). Carbaryl, phosphamidon, and endosulfan significantly inhibit the activity of gut amylase, acetylcholinesterase of
cerebral ganglion, and coelomic fluid of earthworms both in vivo and in vitro
(Dikshith et al .• unpublished data).
10.9.3. Toxicity to Animals
Ingestion of insecticide-contaminated forage crops by animals leads to buildup
of residues in the body fat of such animals. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are by far
the most common residues found in milk, since they are concentrated and stored
in the fat in animals and translocated to the milk fat. It was reported as early as
1947 that DDT residues appeared in the milk of cows that ingested feed treated
with the insecticide (Carter, 1947). Since that time, DDT, dieldrin, BHC, lindane, chlordane, heptachlor, aldrin, endrin, and toxaphene have all been detected
in milk when the feed of the cow has been treated with these compounds at
levels necessary to control the insect pests. In contrast, organophosphorus compounds have not shown such residual effects. The work of Cook (1957) indicates
that the absence of residues in the milk of cows fed with organophosphorus
compounds is due to the inactivation of the compound by the rumen fluid of the
cow.
Insecticides can be detected in blood after exposure. DDT, dieldrin, and lindane have been identified in the blood of most of the examined animals (Schafer,
1968). Toxicological effects, metabolism, and persistence of lindane have been
explored in laboratory animals and domestic goats (Anonymous, 1964; Gopalaswamy and Aiyar, 1977; Datta, 1978; Datta and Dikshith, unpublished data). The
stimulatory effects of organochlorine insecticides on protein biosynthesis altered the
general metabolism and mixed-function oxidases (Bhatia et al .• 1971, 1972; Bhatia and Subramanian, 1972a.b; Bhatia et al .• 1973; Kohli et al .• 1977; Krishnamurthyetal .• 1965; Somasundarametal .• 1978; Rao, 1975).