Contamination of rice by etofenprox, diethylphthalate and alkylphenols: effects on first delivery and sperm count in mice

Abstract

We observed that first delivery was delayed when a group of paired mice fed with non-organic common rice compared to a group fed with organic rice. This led us to hypothesize that pesticides or other soil contaminants may be responsible for the effect on mice reproduction. We then found that the non-organic rice was contaminated with a pesticide etofenprox and nonylphenol, butylphenol and diethyl phthalate which are used as agricultural detergents or plasticizers of agricultural film, that are all suspected to be estrogenic. Therefore, the chemicals were administered to mice at the levels detected in rice, and we subsequently observed that first delivery and sperm count of the animals were significantly impaired. This study is the first to show that rice contaminated with agricultural chemicals affects reproduction in the mammal.

Effects of Nonylphenol on Motion Kinetics, Acrosome and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Frozen-Thawed Bull Sperm

“…One of the derivatives of APEs called NP has been shown to be widely found in fisheries and livestock products [14,29] . It has also been reported to be present in drink water and in foods [4,6,27] .…”

“…Exposure of the general population to NP is unavoidable because of the presence of the agent in the environment [17] . The effects of NP on livestocks have been described such as disruption in testicular development, decrease in sperm motility, viability, decrease in sperm count which eventually led to the decrease in male fertility [12][13][14]38] . Adverse effects of NP on mice [14,17] , rat [13,18] and aquatic species [1,10,11,23,39] have also been reported.…”

“…For example, nonoxynol-9 consisting NP is used as an intravaginal spermicide and condom lubricant [3] . When administered to lab animals it is metabolized to free NP inhibiting testicular development and decreasing sperm motility, viability and sperm count [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] .…”

“…To date, the adverse effects of NP on many different species including mice [14,17] , rats [13,18] , quails [19] and aquatic species including fish, and sea urchins [1,10,11,[20][21][22][23] have been reported. Cattle are the most widely raised livestock and bull sperm is used for artificial insemination worldwide.…”

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“…It caused mitochondrial swelling, focal dilation and vesiculation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and increased interstitial macrophage activity associated with the surface of Leyding cells of rats 5 . According to Hayashi et al 6 , DEP affects sperm count in the mammals. It was also reported as neurotoxicant and enhances production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation 7,8 .…”