Beware of Rotenone on Organic Produce - Though a Natural Pesticide, Rotenone Is Highly Toxic

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SOURCE: http://www.life-enhancement.com/displayart.asp?ID=688

 

Beware of Rotenone on Organic Produce - Though a Natural Pesticide, Rotenone

Is Highly Toxic

 

You may have noticed rotenone recommended and sold in natural/organic

gardening catalogs. It is an effective pesticide but unfortunately is

considered highly toxic to man and other warm-blooded animals (estimated

lethal dose for humans: 300–500 mg/kg;1 note that this is for a single dose,

not a lifetime of daily exposures). Some studies have shown that rats

chronically treated with rotenone develop neuropathological and behavioral

symptoms typical of Parkinson's disease.2 Rotenone is a mitochondrial poison.

It is reported that rotenone has been used for hundreds of years in Asia and

South America to stupefy fish in rivers.1

 

1. Cabras et al. Rotenone residues on olives and in olive oil. J Agric Food

Chem 2002;50:2576-80.

2. Giason & Lee. A new link between pesticides and Parkinson's disease. Nat

Neurosci 2000;3(12):1227-8.