Oxidative stress in human erythrocytes treated with bromfenvinphos and its impurities.

Bromfenvinphos (BFVF) is an organophosphorus (OP) pesticide which was widely used in agriculture and veterinary practice. During synthesis of this insecticide five main impurities are formed: dihydro-bromfenvinphos, dibromo-bromfenvinphos, 2,4-dichlorophenacyl bromide, 2,4-dichlorophenacylidene bromide and 2,4-dichlorophenacylidyne bromide, which can be present in technical grade bromfenvinphos in amounts from 0.1 to 4%. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of bromfenvinphos and its manufacturing impurities on parameters of oxidative stress, the activity of antioxidative enzymes and the level of reduced glutathione. Human erythrocytes were incubated with bromfenvinphos and its impurities in the concentrations range from 0.5 to 500 µM for 1 h. This study indicated that 2,4-dichlorophenacyl derivatives more strongly oxidized analyzed parameters in human erythrocytes than bromfenvinphos. Investigated compounds caused an increase in lipid peroxidation and oxidation of fluorescent probe DCFH2 - the strongest pro-oxidative changes were provoked by 2,4-dichlorophenacyl bromide. None of the compounds studied in the concentrations from 0.5 to 500 µM changed the activity of SOD and only 2,4-dichlorophenacyl decreased activity of CAT. The level of GSH was only altered by 2,4-dichlorophenacyl derivatives. It was observed that increasing number of bromine atoms in the side chain of those derivatives was associated with decreased GSH level.