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 μg 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 μg/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 μg/kg BW, and the lowest benchmark dose (BMD) value was 0.03 μg/kg BW. Accordingly, Aldicarb sulfoxide’s derived no-effect level (DNEL) was calculated as 0.00035 μg/kg BW. Thus, this work is an important reference for supervising Aldicarb sulfoxide in the environment and determining safe exposure limits for Aldicarb sulfoxide. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. * ALB : Albumin ASX : Aldicarb sulfoxide ASN : Aldicarb sulfone ALP : Alkaline phosphate AST : Aspartate aminotransferase BASO : Basophil absolute value BMD : Benchmark dose BMDL : Benchmark dose low BWG : Body weight gain CHE : Cholinesterase CREA : Creatine CK : Creatine kinase DNEL : Derived no-effect level DBIL : Direct bilirubin RIVM : Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environmental EPA : Environmental protection agency EOS : Eosinophil absolute value GLB : Globulin GGT : Gamm-glutamyl transpeptidase GLU : Glucose HCT : Hematocrit HGB : Hemoglobin HDLC : High density lipoprotein cholesterol IBIL : Indirect bilirubin LDH : Lactate dehydrogenase P-LCR : Large platelet ratio LDLC : Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LY : Lymphocytes MCH : Mean hemoglobin account MCHC : Mean hemoglobin concentration MPV : Mean platelet volume MCV : Mean red blood cell volume MONO : HGB; Monocytes absolute value NEUT : Neutrophils absolute value NOAEL : No observed adverse effect level OECD : Organization for economic cooperation and development BASO% : Percent basophil EOS% : Percent eosinophil LY% : Percent lymphocytes MONO% : Percent monocytes NEUT% : Percent neutrophils PLT : Platelet PDW : Platelet distribution width PCV : Platelet packed volume RBWG : Registration, and authorization of chemicals REACH : Relative body weight gain; RBC : Red blood cell Ratio of white balls : A/G; RDW-SD : Red blood cell volume distribution width standard deviation ROW : Relative organ weight ALT : Serum alanine aminotransferase Ca : Serum calcium Cl : Serum chloride Fe : Serum iron Mg : Serum magnesium P : Serum phosphorus K : Serum potassium Na : Serum sodium SD : Sprague-Dawley TBIL : Total bilirubin CHOL : Total cholesterol TP : Total protein TG : Triglyceride UA : Uric acid WBC : White blood cell