Environmental Occurrence, Analysis, and Toxicology of Toxaphene Compounds

Levels of toxaphene congeners in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard, Norway

“…Thus, it has been one of the most heavily used pesticides in the world (Li, 2001). Although this substance is no longer manufactured or used in the USA, CHBs and similar products are still used in Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Indian subcontinent and in regions of the former Soviet Union (Voldner and Li, 1993;de March et al, 1998;de Geus et al, 1999). This pesticide has never been used in Norway (Voldner and Li, 1993;Fjeld et al, 2001).…”

“…Furthermore, there are no data on the long-term biological effects of CHBs in wildlife species (de March et al, 1998). Laboratory experiments on rodents have shown that these contaminants have neurotoxic, nephrotoxic and carcinogenic properties (de March et al, 1998;de Geus et al, 1999). In vitro studies suggest that they also cause endocrine disruption and have carcinogenic and genotoxic properties (de Geus et al, 1999).…”

A Review of Organochlorine Contaminants in Nearshore Marine Mammal Predators

“…As the number and pattern of congener mixtures in the environment is much different than the technical mixtures when made, they suggest that total values given should be considered "only indicative". The LD50 of lab mammals ranged from 5 to 1075 mg/kg depending on species and route of exposure [22]. The highest toxaphene value over the last twenty years measured in pinnipeds was reported as 38 ng/g in East Greenland ringed seal blubber [23] and the highest value in cetaceans was found to be 8,206 ng/g in killer whale blubber in Norway [24].…”

Screening for Genotoxicity and Oestrogenicity of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals <i>in Vitro</i>

“…TOX is a complex mixture containing hundreds of polychlorinated bornane isomers which is formed by chlorination of technical camphene. The use of TOX has been limited in the United States since 1982 and banned by the EPA in 1990 following concerns over bioaccumulation and toxicity [22]. TOX and toxaphenelike preparations are still utilised in South America, India, Africa, Mexico, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Poland, and The USSR.…”

“…It has been shown to bioaccumulate by biota inhabiting regions hundreds and thousands of kilometres away from location of use. Although most isomers persevere in the environment, the human body burden of TOX consists of two to three particular congeners that preferentially accumulate in liver and adipose tissue, and become concentrated in the food chain [22]. Very high concentrations of TOX have been found in the lipidrich tissues of crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) from the Ord River in Western Australia almost thirty years after its use ceased in the area [23].…”