In view of the increased use of
anilofos for crop protection and ever increasing
arsenic levels in
drinking water in many countries, the coexistence of
arsenic and
anilofos in the environment is a reality and simultaneous exposure of humans and animals to these contaminants could be potentially hazardous. The aim of the present study was to examine whether coexposure to
arsenic at the groundwater contamination level could alter the embryofetal toxicity of
anilofos in rat model.
Anilofos (100 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) and
sodium arsenite (1 mg
arsenic kg(-1) day(-1)) were administered by gavage either individually or in combination to the pregnant rats from day 6 to day 15 of gestation.
Arsenic did not produce any significant effects either on maternal or fetal parameters at the given dose.
Anilofos alone significantly decreased
maternal weight gain, feed and water intakes, gravid uterine weights, number of live fetuses and
fetal body weights and increased resorptions. There were increased incidences of gross, skeletal and visceral anomalies in the fetuses of
anilofos-treated group. The main skeletal abnormality was increased intercostal space, while the visceral anomaly was an interventricular septal defect. Treatment with the combination of
arsenic and
anilofos significantly enhanced the fetal changes with much greater magnitude compared with the effects produced by
anilofos alone. Anomalies such as midfacial cleft,
exencephaly and
anophthalmia were seen only in the fetuses of the combination group. The results show that
anilofos interferes with embryofetal development and coexposure with
arsenic at environmentally realistic concentrations produces additive or synergistic effects on the developmental toxicity of
anilofos in rats.