Toxicity endpoint selections for a simazine risk assessment.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

California uses simazine at one of the highest levels for states in the United States (approximately 2.5 million lbs 2006-2010). Simazine causes neuroendocrine disruption and mammary cancer in test animals. A risk assessment was prioritized by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation because of the nondietary concern for simazine exposure to occupational/nonoccupational simazine users, resident nonusers, and bystanders (especially children and children exhibiting pica) at greatest risk.

METHODS:

No observed effect levels (NOELs) from animal studies as well as human exposure data were used to determine nondietary values for the above populations. Registrant-submitted and open literature studies focusing on oral (major human route) effects for simazine and the major metabolites desisopropyl-s-atrazine and diaminochlorotriazine were reviewed as part of the hazard identification process.

RESULTS:

Developmental, reproduction, and chronic studies provided the lowest NOELs for the acute (5 mg/kg/day), subchronic (0.56 mg/kg/day), and chronic (0.52 mg/kg/day) exposure durations, respectively. A benchmark dose (95th percentile) was calculated for mammary tumorigenesis, assuming a threshold mechanism in rats (benchmark dose lower limit [95th percentile; BMDL05 ]: 2.9 mg/kg/day). Margins of exposure and uncertainty factors (100-300×, depending on exposure scenario) were used to characterize risk for designated population subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Fetal developmental delays, endocrine disruption, and mammary tumors resulted from simazine treatment. Systemic and maternal/fetal effects determined the critical NOELs used in risk assessment. Margins of exposures for most scenarios were below acceptable levels, especially for children who may be bystanders where simazine is applied and children who exhibit pica. This risk characterization raises a concern for long-term effects in humans.

• Authors: Marilyn Silva, Poorni Iyer
• Journal: Birth defects research. Part B, Developmental and reproductive toxicology (Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol) Vol. 101 Issue 4 Pg. 308-24 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1542-9741 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25078261 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Herbicides
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Simazine

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Environmental Exposure
• Female
• Fetal Development (drug effects)
• Herbicides (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicity)
• Humans
• MCF-7 Cells
• Rabbits
• Rats
• Receptors, Estrogen (metabolism)
• Reproduction (drug effects)
• Risk Assessment
• Simazine (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicity)