Abstract

Numerous studies, focusing on the effects of environmental pollutants such as pyrethroids, organochlorines, organophosphate pesticides, etc, appear to affect intracellular ion balance, particularly calcium. We speculate that these chemicals may specifi cally target constitutive nitric oxide synthase(cNOS)-mediated processes, e.g., immune. The alteration of intracellular Ca[sup]2+[/sup] transients by these pollutants may represent an important common mechanism responsible for the abrogation of cNOS activation. Moreover, one can hypothesize that exposure to sublethal levels of pesticides that alter calcium transients, could potentially lead to immune, neural and vascular dysfunction in animals. This may be especially true for marine organisms that can be found close to shore and in estuaries, which are more likely to be exposed to these compounds resulting from riverine and
other inputs.

Keywords: Health, Environmental Pollutants - toxicity, Calcium - metabolism, Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - toxicity, Immune System - drug effects, Models, Biological, Nervous System Physiological Phenomena - drug effects, Nitric Oxide - secretion, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I - metabolism, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III - metabolism, Organophosphates - toxicity, Pesticides - toxicity, Pyrethrins - toxicity