Incidence of endrin residues in cucumber and its effects on the biological system of rats.

The residue levels of Endrin were estimated in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) samples showed that 35.5% contained endrin residues ranging from 304.3 to 669.4 ug per 100 g vegetable. The calculated daily consumption of endrin by human population, thus falls between 13.1 and 28.7 ug per kg body weight. The disappearance of endrin in cucumber was also noted after spraying the insecticide in an experimental field. The residues persisted upto 14 days. Female albino rats receiving 28.7 ug endrin per kg body weight, accumulated endrin in their livers (5.47 ug/g) and its amount in the blood increased progressively (15.21 ug/ml) upto 28 days. The enzymes AST and ALT increased progressively, but no endrin was excreted in the faeces. The growth rate of rats as well as principal body organs, were adversely affected by the oral administration of the insecti cide (JPMA 36, 209, 1986 ).