June 2005
Multigenerational Toxicity
Washington State University researchers at the Center for Reproductive Biology recently published results of a study that exposed rodents to the fungicide vinclozolin (Ronilan®) and the insecticide methoxychlor. Pregnant rats were injected with one of the two pesticides, both of which have been classified as endocrine disruptors based on animal testing results. Most commonly, endocrine disruptors affect hormones such as estrogen or testosterone, and may influence genital development.
When high rates of either material were injected into the pregnant rats during the period of genital development, male rat pups born from the injected females were found later to have 20 percent less sperm, which were also less motile. These effects also led to lower fertility statistics. Interestingly, when these male rats were bred with females unexposed to either pesticide, 90 percent of the offspring males had similar problems. This effect occurred in two more generations for a total of four generations. The researchers stated that these genetic changes were not mutations, but rather reversible changes in a process called methylation, in which chemical compounds attach to DNA. (Reuters, 6/2/05).
Editor’s note: In terms of food production, the use of these two pesticides is almost non-existent.
