Ethylene bisdithiocarbamate pesticides Maneb and Mancozeb cause metal overload in human colon cells

Publication date: Available online 7 November 2015 Source:Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology Author(s): Lisa Hoffman, Louis Trombetta, Diane Hardej Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that ethylene bisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides Maneb and Mancozeb are equipotent gastrointestinal toxicants that produce cell loss and metal accumulation within HT-29 and Caco2 colon cells. Nabam, MnCl2, CuCl2 and ZnCl2 exposure produced no loss of viability up to 200μM and increases in metal levels were noted but not to the same extent as Maneb and Mancozeb. EBDC exposure caused increases in copper levels (20-200μM). Maneb and Mancozeb treatment also caused increases in manganese and zinc concentrations (20-200μM). Nabam plus MnCl2 and Nabam and MnCl2 plus ZnCl2 caused decreases in viability and increases in metal levels comparable to Maneb and Mancozeb. Decreases in the ratio of reduced glutathione to glutathione disulfide were observed with Maneb and Mancozeb (20-200μM). Maneb and Mancozeb treatment results in intracellular metal accumulation leading to the oxidative stress. The metal moiety and the organic portion of EBDCs contribute to toxicity.
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research