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ANIMAL MODELS OF CHRONIC PESTICIDE NEUROTOXICITY.
Citation:
MOSER, V. C. ANIMAL MODELS OF CHRONIC PESTICIDE NEUROTOXICITY. Presented at International Neurotoxicology Association, Provoo, FINLAND, June 26 - 30, 2005.
Description:
There is a wealth of literature on neurotoxicological outcomes of acute and short-term exposure to pesticides in laboratory animals, but there are relatively few reports of long-term exposure. Reports in the literature describing "chronic" exposures to pesticides are, in fact, as short as 7 days and rarely as long as 4 months. Furthermore, routes of administration range from subcutaneous to dietary. Doses used in many of the studies produce signs of acute or overt toxicity. In contrast, human symptomology has been reported following exposures that are prolonged and often without obvious toxic effects. A survey of the literature was conducted to identify rodent studies (neurobehavioral and neurophysiological endpoints only) of pesticide exposures lasting greater than 30 days. This survey indicated that the majority of studies concentrate on cholinesterase inhibitors (organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides). Various neuromotor, cholinergic, physiological, affective, and cognitive disorders were reported at doses producing cholinesterase inhibition; however, there were very few effects at non-inhibiting doses. Other classes of pesticides produced similar effects, but without cholinergic signs. In many studies, the changes were subtle, which may correspond to the nonspecific changes in psychomotor and cognitive function reported in humans. It appears, then, that the data from animal and human pesticide exposures are generally comparable, but the specific outcomes are influenced by many experimental differences. Future research should concentrate on analogous exposures, outcomes, and interpretations.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not reflect EPA policy.