Toxicology of the herbicide dichlobenil (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile) and its main metabolites

Abstract

A review of the toxicology of dichlobenil presents the results of acute tests in rats, mice and rabbits, short-term tests in rats, pigs and rabbits, long-term and reproduction studies in rats and a test for teratogenicity in mice. The compound is more toxic on acute administration to rabbits than to rats, but this difference in sensitivity is not apparent in short-term tests. A single lethal dose in the rabbit produces liver necrosis, but enzyme studies seem to indicate that sublethal doses cause little or no liver damage. The formation of phenolic metabolites has been demonstrated in both rats and rabbits. Various criteria show that these substituted phenols are active uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. The possible connexion between the liver necrosis found in the rabbit and the uncoupling action of the metabolites of dichlobenil is discussed.