Influence of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites on the form of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin of vertebrates.

The effect of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites on the structure of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin was studied by using different doses and times of incubation of hemoglobin with the herbicide. It was ascertained that among the investigated hemoglobins the most sensitive was carp oxyhemoglobin incubated with 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and the least sensitive was human hemoglobin. Comparing the toxicity of 2,4-D, MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4-DCP (2,4-dichlorophenol), 2,4-DMP (2,4-dimethylphenol) it was found that the highest decrease occurred in bovine hemoglobin incubated with 2,4-DMP. The phenoxyherbicides caused stabilization of the structure of T-deoxyhemoglobin in vitro, in that they decreased the oxygen affinity with a simultaneous increase in methemoglobin concentration.