Human red blood cell membrane damage by endosulfan.

Endosulfan is a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide. Its in vitro toxicity on human red blood cell membrane was studied by staining with a fluorochrome dye, merocyanine-540 (MC-540) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). At a concentration of 0.001 microgram/ml (1 ppb) endosulfan was found to damage human red cell membranes as demonstrated by fluorescence of 30-50% of red cells on staining with MC-540. This was supported by the finding of crenation and threading of red blood cells under SEM. At concentration of 1 microgram/ml (1 ppm) the cells were markedly damaged.