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Background: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAS) Poisoning is the most common poisoning in the Poisoning Emergency Department of Noor Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The objective of this study was to compare QRS interval duration with RaVR³3mm and R/SaVR³ 0.7 in predicting: serious complications of acute TCA toxicity.
Methods and Materials: This study was descriptive – analytic and prospective cohort. TCA poisoned patients (155 cases) were evaluated in the Emergency Department of Noor Hospital, Isfahan. On admission time, ECG and ABGs were done. Data were analyzed by SPSS Software, using t – students and chi- square tests.
Results: The ECG results showed that frequency of RaVR³3mm , R/SaVR³ 0.7 , QRS³0.1(s), QT> 0.48(s) , Right axis deviation and arrhythmia were 5.2% ,12.9% , 37.4% , 8.38% , 12.4% and 4.5 % respectively. There was a significant relationship between widening of QRS with arrhythmia RaVR³3mm with tachycardia and delirium and R/SaVR³ 0.7 with delirium, seizure, tachycardia, hypotension and arrhythmia. QRS interval duration (61.5% -85.7%) was found to be a more sensitive indicator of toxicity than the R/SaVR ³ 0.7 (27.1% -30.7%) and RaVR>3mm (7.6% -14.2%). The positive prodective values (PPV) of ECG parameters for TCA toxicity for R/SaVR ³0.7 (20%) was more than RaVR³3mm (12.5%) and widening QRS (10.3%).
Conclusion: Specific ECG parameters such as R/SaVR, QRS interval duration and height of the R wave in lead aVR can be useful parameters in assessing and predicting cardiac and CNS complication of TCA toxicity.

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Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most commonly used drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. Aceclofenac is a newer derivative of diclofenac with less gastrointestinal complications. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity profile of sustain release aceclofenac injection in rats at three dose levels, ranging from 2 to 10 mg/kg body weight.
Material & Methods: 48 Swiss albino rats were divided into four groups and were treated with saline or drug at three different doses for 28 days. Various physiological, hematological and biochemical parameters were studied.
Results: There were no mortality and signs of toxicity at different dose levels in any of the treatment groups. Hematological as well as biochemical parameters were unaffected at three different dose levels of aceclofenac sustain release injection.
Conclusion: These results indicated that aceclofenac injection is non-toxic even at higher dose level.

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Background: A pot experiment was conducted to determine the toxic effects of some heavy metals on the plant growth and seed yield of maize (Zea mays L.).
Materials and Metheds: Heavy metals Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr and Co individually and in combinations were added as chloride salts in solutions to the pots before sowing. The test plants for were harvested after 80 days of germination and evaluated for nitrogen, protein and heavy matal content was determined.
Resalts: Heavy metals caused significant decreases in growth and protein content. Cd was the most toxic metal followed by Co, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Cr. Protein content decreased from 16.0–68.4% in metal exposed plants at metal concentrations equivalent to those found in
Conclusion: Metal accumulation by seeds was directly related to the applied heavy metal with greater concentrations of metals found in cases where metals were added individually rather than in combinations. The toxic effects on the plant growth, nitrogen content in different plant parts, and protein content in seeds, exerted by two metals in combination were only as harsh as for the most toxic metal individually probably due to their antagonistic effects.

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Background: Glybenclamide and metformin are two of the most common oral hypoglycemic drugs which are often used in treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Toxicity due to these drugs may occur intentionally, accidentally, or even at the normal dosage because of the progression of such internal diseases as renal dysfunction.
Methods: In this case series study, 59 patients poisoned with oral hypoglycemic agents referring to Baharloo Hospital were evaluated between March 2009 and September 2010.
Results: The most common clinical findings were lethargy (66.7%) and drowsiness (66.7%) that were mostly observed in patients who had concomitantly ingested glybenclamide and metformin. Metabolic acidosis was observed in 33.3% of the patients who had ingested metformin alone and 22.2 % of the patients who had ingested metformin together with glybenclamide. Some degrees of hypoglycemia were observed in 50.8% of the patients upon admission nevertheless, severe hypoglycemia was seen only in 17% of them. The majority of the patients got improved within 3 days of hospitalization and got discharged. Although due to the severity of toxicity and its associated complications, 22.8% of the patients needed more than 3 days of hospitalization, permanent neurological complications and mortality did not happen to any of the patients.
Conclusion: Glybenclamide overdose leads to hypoglycemia and it can be prevented by careful monitoring of blood glucose and immediate treatment with intravenous dextrose, mostly occuring due to its hypoglycemic effects on the brain.

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Background: Zinc has significant effects on structural and functional activities of many proteins and enzymes involved in biological activities, especially the regulation of immune-system. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea/vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy, and dehydration. Further signs include growth retardation, altered iron function, anemia, copper deficiency, decreased immune function, decreased HDL (high density lipoprotein), increased LDL (low density lipoprotein), and increased HgbA1C.This study was carried out to examine the invitro effects of different concentrations of zinc on viability and death of T-lymphoid (Raji) cell line.
Methods: In this study, the cell line was exposed to different concentrations of zinc (10nanoM to 500microM) followed by incubation (37° C, 5% CO2) at various time points (12 to 72 h). The cells were, then, evaluated using trypan blue exclusion dye, MTT assay (mitochondorial thiazol tetrazolium), and light microscopy.
Results: The results of this study showed almost different responses to different amounts of zinc in the T cell line (Raji). Zinc concentrations below 100µM at different incubation time points had little or no effects on the cell line compared to the controls. Higher concentrations of zinc viability (>100µM) diminished to 70% at 12 hour and less than 50% at 24 to 72 hours of incubation.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that zinc has a dose-dependent cytotoxicity effect on Raji cells.

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Background: Rosa damascena is a traditional medicinal plant used in Asia to treat several ailments. This study reports In vitro and In vivo antioxidative properties and toxicity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of white rose, an indigenous variety of Rosa damascena from Iran.
Methods: The antimicrobial activities, total phenolics, antioxidative properties and the blood sera Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) of the extracts were determined using standard methods. Acute and subchronic toxicity and cytotoxicity of the extracts were tested. Hematology and clinical chemistry parameters were investigated.
Results: S.aureus only was susceptible. The total phenol contents of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were 137.67±9.50 and 138.67±5.69 μg Gallic acid equivalent/mg sample respectively. DPPH scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition effects were higher than those of the synthetic antioxidants. A dose dependent FRAP was noted in blood sera of rats fed with the extracts. Cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios, fasting glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid levels decreased. IC50 of 4.5 µg/ml was determined for cytotoxicity of the extract against Hela cell line.
Conclusion: Antioxidative activity and cytotoxicity of white rose suggests its promising applications as a natural antioxidant and health promoting agent for the treatment and prevention of free radicals associated diseases.

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Background: In recent years, silver nanoparticles due to their antimicrobial properties, have formed about 56% of nanoparticles global production. Since the released nanoparticles ultimately enter water ecosystems, their maximum toxic effects are magnified in aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this study is to show how salinity can decrease the toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on exposed rainbow trout fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss), as a model in aquatic eco-toxicological studies.
Methods: The effects of colloidal silver nanoparticles on rainbow trout fry (n=540, 10-week-old 1000 ± 35.0 mg) were examined in two different salinities (6±0.3ppt, and 12±0.2 ppt) in comparison with de-chlorinated tap water (0.4ppt). Median lethal concentration (LC50) of various concentrations of the Ag-NPs (ranging from 0.25 up to 80 ppm) was determined through a 6-day static-renewal exposure of tested fish fry to the salinities.
Results: LC50 of the colloidal Ag-NPs for rainbow trout fry in 12±0.2 ppt salinity was almost 20 and 2 times greater than 0.4 and 6±0.3ppt salinities, respectively.
Conclusion: The release of silver nanoprticles into fresh water ecosystems can lead to more biological, physical, and chemical irrecoverable impacts on the ecosystems and their fishes in comparison with saline water ecosystems.

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Background: This study investigated the effects of some important meteorological parameters and filler type compounds on phytotoxicity of captan in peach trees in the north of Iran. Captan is a phthalimide fungicide which has frequently been used in northern regions of Iran to control certain plant diseases. This fungicide has caused intense phytotoxicity in peach trees which was first observed in the northern districts of Iran in 2005. Since early research has only reported that some changes in the climate could be associated with this phytotoxic effect and little is known on phytotoxicity of filler in the formulation, therefore, we studied the role of filler in this toxic effect and also its interaction with this phytotoxicity.
 Methods: Filler (calcium carbonate) and climatic parameters, including minimum and maximum temperatures, relative humidity, daily precipitation, and sunshine hour, were analyzed.
Results: The means of calcium carbonate concentrations measured by atomic absorption and EDTA analyses were 17.41± 0.4 and 20.93 ± 1.25 µg /ml, respectively. The final ranges of calcium carbonate in formulation were found to be 42-43.5%. pH values were measured from 8.55 to 8.75. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between meteorological parameters in the year 2005 in comparison with previous year (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The high amounts of calcium carbonate in the formulation of captan, resulting in alkaline hydrolysis followed by the increasing uptake of thiophosgen in peach trees and consequently interacting with meteorological parameters, have caused a broad spectrum of phytotoxicity in northern areas of Iran.

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 Introduction: In some intoxicated patients, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is examined due to the prolonged loss of consciousness, focal neurologic findings, and fever of unknown origin. We aimed to evaluate the probable relationship between the different toxicity causes and the CSF indices in poisoned patients and determine if they could predict the patients’ outcome.
Methods: All patients who had been admitted to the toxicology intensive care unit of Loghman-Hakim hospital between March 2006 and March 2011 and had undergone lumbar puncture (LP) were included into this retrospective study. The patients’ demographic data and results of CSF evaluation (level of glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, protein, and white blood cells in CSF fluid) were evaluated. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 17.
Results: A total of 111 patients were evaluated. Mean age of the patients was 37±15 years. Thirteen (11.7%) had deceased. No relation was found between the cause of poisoning (medication involved) and the changes in CSF indices. A statistically significant difference was found between the survivors and non-survivors in terms of CSF protein, LDH, and WBC. However, such a difference was not detected between these two groups regarding CSF glucose.
Conclusion: In intoxicated patients with prolonged decreased level of consciousness or prolonged fever, early evaluation of CSF can help early diagnosis of complications such as meningitis and prompt treatment. Also, high level of protein, LDH, and WBC in the CSF can predict higher mortality rates in these patients.

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Background: Massularia acuminata has been claimed to be used in managing several ailments in folk medicine and in some instances substantiated with scientific data. This however has been without recourse to its safety. Therefore, aqueous stem extract of M. acuminata was evaluated for its effects on some function indices of the liver of male rats.
 Methods: Sixty, male rats were grouped into 4 (A, B, C and D) such that Group A (control) was orally administered 1cm3 of distilled water while those in groups B, C and D received orally 1 cm3 of extract corresponding to 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight respectively. Some biochemical parameters of liver function were evaluated in the animals after 1, 7 and 21 daily doses.
Results: The extract significantly decreased (P<0.05) the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the liver of rats throughout the experimental period. This decrease was accompanied by corresponding increase in the serum enzyme. In contrast, all the doses of the extract increased the activities of both the AST and ALT in the liver and serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as well as the concentrations of serum total bilirubin, protein and albumin.
 Conclusion: This study has revealed that the aqueous stem extract of Massularia acuminata at the doses of 250-1000 mg/kg body weight hampered the normal functioning of the liver of male rats and is therefore not safe for oral consumption at the doses investigated.

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BACKGROUND: Nicotiana tobacco contains large amounts of alkaloid nicotine. Tobacco plant is used for smoking and causes many health problems since it is high in nicotine which is one of the widely-recognized toxic compounds with serious side effects for different body organs. Reducing nicotine content of this plant is a way to reduce its health hazards in cigarette smokers. Utilizing the new methods of genetic engineering can modify nicotine levels in the plant. In this study, through transferring the blocking gene, the pathway of nicotine biosynthesis was blocked to produce transgenic tobacco with low levels of nicotine.
Methods: Transgenic plants carrying T DNA, and non-transgenic plants were grown on MS medium. Then their leaves were dried and powdered. The plants were extracted with alkali solution. Eventually, the nicotine content of the extract were analyzed using GC.
Results: The analysis of extracts showed a reduction in the nicotine content of the transgenic plant (contain T-DNA) in comparison with non-transgenic plants.
Conclusion: Tobacco with lower nicotine reduction can reduce the toxic effects of smoking on smokers and can facilitate withdrawal from it.

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Background: The development of toxicity tests regarding toxic responses of different fish species could be more effectively used in predictive toxicology and risk assessment. In this study lethal concentrations (LC50-96 h) values of copper sulphate an important toxic industrial pollutant, on Capoeta fusca were determined. Behavioral changes at different concentrations of CuSO4 were determined for the C.fusca.
Methods: The sample fishes were collected from Qanat in Birjand and were transported to the laboratory in polythene bags. The exposure time of fish to CuSO4 was 96 hours. Mortalities were recorded at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours of exposure, and the dead fish were removed regularly from the test aquariums. Physicochemical parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, pH and Total hardness of aquaria were monitored daily.
Results: The LC50 values for CuSO4 at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of exposure, were 43.62, 12.6, 7.66, and 6.85 mg/L, respectively. The median LC50 value of CuSO4 for C.fusca was found to be 6.928 mg/L by EPA method and estimated to be 6.787 mg/L with SPSS statistical software.
Conclusion: The mortality decreased with time, and most of the deaths occurred during the first 24 h. In addition, behavioral changes increased with increased concentration. This metal is an important constituent in industrial effluents discharged into freshwaters. The results obtained in this study clearly revealed the fact that it is necessary to control the use of a heavy metal such as copper.

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Background: This study aims to investigate the patterns of bioaccumulation and depuration of copper in the selected kidney and liver of Capoeta fusca.
Methods: The fish were collected between September and November 2010 from a qanat in Birjand. They were exposed to two types treatments with copper (0.25 and 0.75 mg/L) for a period of 41 days. The fish under study were exposed to the above-mentioned sub-lethal concentrations separately for 14 and 21 days (accumulation period). At the end of this period, the remaining fish were kept in tap water (elimination period) for 31 and 41 days.
Results: The findings showed that the accumulation of copper in lower and higher sub-lethal concentrations was higher in kidney as the mean accumulation of copper on day 21 was 1.9±0.1 μg/g and 2.93±0.47 μg/g respectively, in 0.25 μg/g and 0.75 μg/g concentrations. On the other hand, the results also showed that the depuration level of copper in the given concentrations was higher in liver than kidney. The bioaccumulation and depuration of copper significantly increased in the kidney and liver of C. fusca (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Based on the present work, it is concluded that C. fusca has a potential for the rapid accumulation and depuration of copper in freshwater. Also, the results indicate that the fish C. fusca, as representative fish species in the East of Iran, can be a useful bioindicator organism of water contamination with copper.

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Background: Despite the wide range of applications, there is a serious lack of information on the impact of the nanoparticles on human health and the environment. The present study was done to determine the range of dangerous concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticle and their effects on mouse embryonic stem cells.
Methods: Iron oxide nanoparticles with less than 20 nanometers diameter were encapsulated by a PEG-phospholipid. The suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles was prepared using the culture media and cell viability was determined by MTT assay.
Results: MTT assay was used to examine the cytotoxicity of iron oxide nanoparticle s. Royan B1 cells were treated with medium containing different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60µg/ml) of the iron oxide nanoparticle. Cell viability was determined at 12 and 24 hours after treatment which showed significant decreases when concentration and time period increased.
 Conclusion: The main mechanism of nanoparticles action is still unknown, but in vivo and in vitro studies in different environments suggest that they are capable of producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, they may have an effect on the concentration of intracellular calcium, activation of transcription factors, and changes in cytokine. The results of this study show that the higher concentration and duration of treatment of cells with iron oxide nanoparticles increase the rate of cell death.

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Background: Essential oils are found to have multiple active components which can show in vitro cytotoxic action against various cancerous cell lines. This study reports the in vitro cytotoxic effects of the essential oil from Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae) growing wild in Iran.
Methods: Water-distilled essential oil of A. absinthium collected from Ardabil, north-western Iran, was examined for its cytotoxic effects using a modified MTT assay. Air-dried aerial parts of A. absinthium was subjected to hydrodistillation using a clevenger-type apparatus. Cytotoxicity of the essential oil was measured against Hela and human healthy peripheral blood cells.
Results: The 50% cytotoxic concentrations were found to be 48.59 µg/ml and 5456.07 µg/ml for Hela cells and human lymphocytes, respectively. The volatile oil displayed good cytotoxic action against the human tumor cell line.
Conclusion: The IC50 shows that cytotoxicity of the oil against human tumor cell line is much higher than that required for healthy human cells. These results indicate low adverse effects for this oil. The findings of this study necessitate the need for further consideration of this essential oil in anti-neoplastic chemotherapy.

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Background:Gossypol is a yellow toxic pigment from the cottonseed that can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans and animals by affecting the testicular tissues. Nowadays cottonseed is used as food supplement for ruminants specially the sheep. In this study, two different stem cell lines of testicular tissue including GC1-spg (mouse testis) and SFTF-PI43 (sheep testis) cells were used to evaluation of gossypol cytotoxicity.
Methods: The GC-1spg and the SFTF_PI43 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with fetal bovine serum (10%) and antibiotic (penicillin 105/ml, streptomycin100μg/ml), and then 5×104 cells/well were seeded in 24 well plates. Cultured cells were exposed to four different concentrations of gossypol (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10μM). After 24 h incubation, cells viability test was performed using Trypan Blue dye exclusion and MTT assay. The Thiobarbituric Acid Reacting Substances (TBARS) and Ferric Reducing Activity Potential (FRAP) assays was performed on media.
Result: In high concentrations (over than 2.5μM), Gossypol showed cytotoxic effects on cells. The IC50 for gossypol (using MTT assays) on SFTF-PI43 and GC-1spg cell lines was 2.2 μM and 3.2 μM, respectively. While the results for FRAP assay did not show any significant differences between the test and control groups, significantly higher lipid peroxidation was observed in SFTF-PI43 cells that were treated with higher doses of gossypol (10μM).
Conclusion:In this research, we found that gossypol has cytotoxic effects on both examined testicular cell lines and increased lipid peroxidation, which is a probable mechanism of its toxicity on cell lines.

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Background: Phenol and its derivatives like dinitrophenol and pentachlorophenol (carbolic acid) are widely used as insecticides, but they are very toxic substances. Phenol is a general protoplasmic poison with corrosive local effects that denature proteins. Poisoning with phenol compounds may occur by ingestion, inhalation, and absorption through skin. In this report we presented the toxicity effects of Phenol and its derivatives like dinitrophenol and pentachlorophenol on humans.
Case report: A 27-year-old married female was found unconscious at her residence in September 2013. She was expired after hospitalization in Lady Hardinge Medical College and its associated hospital on the same day after six hours. On examination, corrosion of skin, at angel of mouth and chin, and brown discoloration in mucosa of the esophagus were seen. Histological examination showed exfoliation of esophageal mucosa and coagulative necrosis of gastric mucosa. In toxicological analyses, carbolic acid was detected.
Conclusion: Strict precautionary measures are advised when using this compound.

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Background: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of sub-lethal earthworm biomarkers as they are relevant indicators of environmental change and they are among the five key indicators for ecotoxicological testing of industrial chemicals determined by the OECD. In the present study, the effects of an organophosphate pesticide dichlorovos on lysosomes of coelomocytes of earthworm E. foetida are studied using Neutral Red Retention Assay (NRRA).
Methods: Earthworms were exposed to three sub-lethal concentrations of the pesticide for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days and neutral red retention assay was done following the method employed by Weeks and Sevendsen and Booth et al.
Results: It was observed that the pesticide significantly affected the coelomocyte viability within 28 days of exposure. The neutral red retention time of lysosomal membrane significantly decreased at all concentrations when compared with well-matched controls.
Conclusion: After the analysis of results, it was concluded that the neutral red retention time assay in earthworms can be used to link changes in the permeability of lysosomal membranes to ecologically relevant life cycle effects caused by such toxic substances.

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Background: Artediffusin is a sesquiterpene lactone with an endoperoxide group which has been isolated from Artemisia diffusa. Artemisia has always been of great botanical and pharmaceutical interest and is useful in traditional medicines for the treatment of a variety of diseases and complaints. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the cytotoxic, mutagenic and anti-mutagenic activities of Artediffusin (Tehranolide) extracted from Artemisia diffusa.
Methods: Cytotoxicity was measured using a modified MTT assay on normal human lymphocytes and cancer cells. The mutagenic and anti-mutagenic activities of Artediffusin were evaluated using the Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100 with and without metabolic activation S9.
 Results: 28μg/ml concentration of Artediffusin inactivated 77.73±0.78% of HeLa cells activity and 5600µg/ml concentration of Artediffusin inactivated 28.79±1.82% of lymphocytes activity. The maximum percentage of anti-mutagenic activity of Artediffusin was observed in the strain of S. typhimurium TA98, with the presence of metabolic activation S9.
Conclusion: Artediffusin may be exploited as a natural anti-cancer and anti-mutagenic agent with low adverse side effects

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Background: Diazinon is an organophosphorous pesticide which widely found in municipal, agricultural, and urban storm water discharges. The present study was conducted to achieve lethal concentration (LC50) and behavioral changes of Rutilus rutilus caspius and Hypophthal-micthys molitrix after exposure to lethal concentration of diazinon.
Methods: The experiment was carried out in static conditions, based on instructions of OECD in 4 days under controlled water physicochemical conditions with pH of 7.2±0.2, oxygen of 7±0.3 mg/l, total hardness of 180 mg CaCo3 and temperature of 24±1 C°. All fishes were accli-matized in 400 L aquaria for 10 days. Treated aquaria had concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 ppm of diazinon for H. molitrix, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, and 20 for R. rutilus caspi-cus, while there was no toxic concentration for the control group. LC1, LC10, LC30, LC50, LC70, LC90, and LC99 were calculated for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours.
Results: LC50 96h diazinon values were 3.93 and 1.71 ppm for H. molitrix and R. rutilus caspi-cus, respectively. Clinical observation revealed that the poisoned fishes suffered from nerve paralysis syndrome. The fishes exhibited irregular, erratic, and darting swimming movements, severe aching, and collapse to the bottom of the aquarium.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that diazinon has medium toxicity at low concentrations for thede two species and causes morbidities.