Effects of endosulfan pesticide on toad.

The lethal and sublethal toxicity of Endosulfan on the African toad, Bufo regularis were evaluated to assess changes in behaviour and energy reserves. 96 hours LC50 was 0.730 mg/l while the estimated safe concentration was 0.07 mg/L indicating the high toxicity of the insecticide. Toads exposed to lethal concentrations of endosulfan showed dose-dependent behavioural abnormalities with more pronounced poisoning symptoms occurring at higher concentrations. The pesticide caused differential increase in serum glucose levels with a concomitant reduction in liver glycogen indicating disorders in carbohydrate metabolism due to pesticide induced stress and hence can serve as suitable biomarkers in pesticide toxicity studies.