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Acute and environmental toxicity studies with hexazinone.
Summary
Hexazinone herbicide shows slight to moderate acute toxicity in oral and intraperitoneal doses. While it can cause eye irritation and minor skin effects, it is not a dermal sensitizer or inhalation hazard.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Agrochemical safety assessment
Background:
- Hexazinone is a herbicide used in noncropland and specific crop applications.
- Understanding its toxicity is crucial for safe handling and environmental impact assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the acute and subchronic toxicity of hexazinone.
- To establish safe handling guidelines for hexazinone.
- To determine the environmental impact potential of hexazinone.
Main Methods:
- Acute oral, intraperitoneal, and inhalation toxicity tests in rats, guinea pigs, and dogs.
- Repeated dose oral toxicity studies in rats.
- Dermal irritation and sensitization studies in rabbits and guinea pigs.
- Subchronic dermal toxicity studies in rabbits.
Main Results:
- Oral LD50 values indicate slight to moderate toxicity. Intraperitoneal LD50 in rats was 530 mg/kg.
- Hexazinone is a moderate to severe eye irritant but caused only mild skin erythema.
- Subchronic dermal exposure increased liver enzymes at high doses but showed no microscopic liver alterations.
- No mortality occurred from inhalation exposure up to 7.48 mg/L.
Conclusions:
- Hexazinone exhibits moderate toxicity, with significant eye irritation potential.
- Safe handling practices are necessary, especially regarding eye contact.
- Further environmental fate studies may be warranted based on toxicity profile.