Subchronic oral toxicity study of Aldicarb sulfoxide in Sprague-Dawley rats

Aldicarb sulfoxide is the metabolite of the exceedingly deadly carbamate insecticide Aldicarb. Aldicarb sulfoxide is easily soluble in water and has been identified in groundwater. Moreover, Aldicarb sulfoxide is highly hazardous to mammals. However, the toxicity data of Aldicarb sulfoxide is scarce. Here, the effects of relatively low dosages of exposure to Aldicarb sulfoxide on the blood biochemical, hematological, and histopathological parameters were examined in SD rats. The rats were treated with Aldicarb sulfoxide orally at dosages of 0, 6.3, 18.9, and 56.7 g per kg b.w. daily for 12 weeks. The results revealed that Aldicarb sulfoxide induced significant alterations in liver-related biochemical parameters, glucose level, cholesterol level, and uric acid level. Histopathological testing demonstrated cellular alterations in the liver of 18.9 and 56.7 g/kg BW. Together, our data demonstrated that Aldicarb sulfoxide exposure causes liver injury. Furthermore, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was less than 6.3 g/kg BW, and the lowest benchmark dose (BMD) value was 0.03 g/kg BW. Accordingly, Aldicarb sulfoxides derived no-effect level (DNEL) was calculated as 0.00035 g/kg BW. Thus, this work is an important reference for supervising Aldicarb sulfoxide in the environment and determining safe exposure limits for Aldicarb sulfoxide.