Endrin

Abstract

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by endrin, an organochlorine insecticide used since the 1950s to protect cotton, rice, sugar cane, maize, and other crops against a wide range of agricultural pests. Because of its high toxicity and persistence in the environment, endrin has been banned in many countries and severely restricted in others. Ingestion of contaminated food is determined to be the most important route of human exposure. A review of levels of endrin detected in the environment, in animals, in food, and in exposed humans draws upon a large number of older studies conducted when endrin was much more widely used than at present. Findings from these studies, which document widespread contamination, indicate the health and environmental consequences arising from the indiscriminate use and disposal of this highly toxic pesticide. Reports of fish kills linked to the use of endrin confirm its environmental hazards, which have also been documented for other species. Other sections review findings from experimental investigations of toxicity, case reports of accidental and suicidal poisoning, and epidemiological studies of occupationally exposed workers. Findings consistently point to the neurotoxicity of this pesticide and the rapid onset f convulsions following exposure. The report concludes that endrin is unlikely to present a hazard to exposed workers where good work practices and recommended safety precautions are enforced. The occasional presence of low levels of endrin in air, food, and surface and drinking-water is judged to be of little public health significance. Because of the high toxicity of this pesticide, the report recommends that endrin should be used only in cases where no less toxic alternative is available. The report closes with advice on the medical treatment of endrin poisoning and on the emergency management of major status epilepticus