Comparative study on the pulmonary toxicity induced by some marketed pesticides after repeated oral administration in rats.

Mancozeb (MC), carbendazim (CBZ), and hymexazol (HML) are widely used fungicides in agricultural and veterinary fields worldwide. Our goal is to compare the pulmonary toxicity induced by oral gavage of these pesticides in rats. Thirty-five rats were used and divided into 7 groups as follows: (1) control negative, (2, 3) 125 and 250 mg/kg. bwt MC, respectively, (4, 5) 125, 250 mg/kg. bwt CBZ, respectively, (6, 7) 75, 150 mg/kg. bwt HML, respectively. All treatments were given to rats daily via oral routes for 14 days. All of these fungicides dose-dependently increased MDA levels and decreased GSH content in lung tissue homogenates. The oral intake of these fungicides could upregulate the mRNA levels of IL1β, TNFα, and NF-κB genes and exhibit strong iNOS and Cox-2 protein expressions along with severe histopathological alterations within the pulmonary tissues. The highest pulmonary toxicity was recorded in the HML groups, followed by the MC and CBZ groups. The oral intake of these fungicides dose-dependently induced pulmonary toxicity via oxidative stress, which is associated with triggering the NF-κB signaling pathway.