Is rotenone harmful to humans?

The World Health Organization classifies rotenone as moderately hazardous because it may be absorbed by ingestion or inhalation. Inhalation of concentrated rotenone in the powder form is the most direct threat to humans, and caution is required during handling.

What is the purpose of rotenone?

Uses. Rotenone is used as a pesticide, insecticide, and as a nonselective piscicide (fish killer). It is commercialized as cubé, tuba, or derris, in single preparation or in synergistic combination with other insecticides. In the United States and Canada, all uses of rotenone except as a piscicide are being phased out.

What plants is rotenone found in?

Its principal commercial source is the derris plant of the East Indies, but it is also present in a South American plant called ‘cube’ and in the North American plant popularly termed ‘devil’s shoestring’. All the plants that are known to yield rotenone are members of the natural order Legum-inos ¦.

What are the side effects of rotenone?

Following oral ingestion, clinical signs of rotenone toxicosis may include pharyngitis, nausea, vomiting, gastric pain, clonic convulsions, muscle tremors, lethargy, incontinence, and respiratory stimulation, followed by depression. Respiratory depression and seizures lead to hypoxemia and hypercapnia.

What happens if you inhale rotenone?

* Breathing Rotenone can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. * Exposure to Rotenone can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, headache, muscle tremors, convulsions and seizures (“fits”). * Rotenone may damage the liver and kidneys.

Can you buy rotenone?

Liquid rotenone is a restricted-use pesticide that can be purchased from certain pesticide suppliers. To legally use a restricted-use pesticide, a person must obtain pesticide applicator certification through the Cooperative Extension Service.

Is heptachlor still used?

Heptachlor was used as an insecticide; however, nearly all registered uses of heptachlor have been canceled.

What is rotenone made from?

Rotenone is a botanical pesticide derived from the roots of species of plants from the family Leguminosae. Most commercially available preparations are derived from the species Derris elliptica, Derris mallaccensis, Lonchocarpus utilis and Lonchocarpus urucu.

Does rotenone cause Parkinson’s?

New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson’s disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson’s disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.

Does rotenone cause hypoxia?

The specific complex I inhibitor, rotenone, and the reduction of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content reduced intracellular hypoxia, indicating that intracellular oxygen concentration is regulated by the consumption of oxygen by mitochondria.

How long does it take rotenone to work?

After applying rotenone, fish in a treated pond will begin to surface within five minutes to one hour, and dead fish may continue to be found for several days. Dead fish may be either collected from ponds and disposed of properly or may be left in the pond for natural environmental decay.

How much does rotenone cost?

Rotenone is expensive, which is another reason to not do a renovation unless it is necessary. Costs can range from $50 to $80 per gallon. At $70 per gallon, the 5-acre pond above would cost $70 X 20 acre-feet = $1,400. Prices vary from year to year and depend on total amount purchased.