Lethal Interaction of Ubiquitous Insecticide Carriers with Virus

Abstract

Large quantities of presumably nontoxic petroleum oil by-products are introduced into the environment as pesticide dispersal agents and emulsifiers. An increase in viral lethality with a concomitant influence on the liver and central nervous system occurs in young mice previously primed with such chemicals.

Approaches to the Evaluation of Chemical-Induced Immunotoxicity

“…The inclusion of infectivity assays into Tier II is important since a higher incidence of mortality due to infection was observed in exprimental animals, wildlife, and fish whose immune systems were compromised following exposure to chemicals as compared to the incidence in nonexposed animals (20,(55)(56)(57). Also, early epidemiologic studies indicated that decreased antiviral resistance in children could be a consequence of immunosuppression due to massive spraying of forestry insecticides or chemical carriers in the insecticide formulations (21). Generally then, a series of quantitative and functional immunologic assays are designed to test for adverse effects of chemicals on the immune system.…”

Dose and Time Determining, and Other Factors Influencing, Toxicity

“…Subsequent studies (Crocker et al, 1976) extended these observations to show that the responsible component was the insecticide carrier, the solvent emulsifier system in which the insecticides were prepared. On the contrary, Menna et al (1980) exposed suckling CD1 outbred mice topically to insecticide carrier and found a decreased sensitivity to infection with lethal doses of influenza virus type A/PR8/34 (HONI) compared with untreated or mocktreated control mice.…”

The role of citizen scientist in nature resource decision-making: Lessons from the spruce budworm problem in Canada

“…For reasons that are not clear, this first study received little media attention in New Brunswick. Matters took a decidedly different turn, however, with the Crocker team's second study in which they attempted to determine which components of the spray led to the viral enhancement (Crocker et al, 1976).…”