Endosulfan (Thiodan) [6,7,8,9,10,10-Hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro 
6,9-me thano~2 ,4, 3-benzodioxathiepin-—3-oxide | 
When endosulfan was administered orally or intraperitoneally to rats, 
both isomers were excreted in part unchanged. Examination of gall, feces 
and urine and re-feeding of metabolites was used to study the metabolic 
path. In addition to the sulfate, endosulfan hydroxyether and the corre- 
sponding lactone were found after application of endosulfan. Administration 
of the sulfate gave rise to the hydroxyether and lactone. The hydroxyether 
and the lactone were observed after administration of either compound. When 
endosulfan ether or endosulfandiol was administered to rats, in addition to 
these two materials, the hydroxyether and lactone and one unidentified com- 
pound were found (879, 1395, 1593). Studies with rabbits and guinea pigs 
indicated metabolites were excreted via urine as conjugates but none were 
identified (1191). 
In other studies, white mice (BALB/c strain) were fed C!*-labeled 
endosulfan. The two isomers were not completely absorbed From the gastro- 
intestinal tract but, along with endosulfan sulfate and diol, were excreted 
in the feces. Only a trace of oxidized endosulfan was found in the kidney 
and muscle extracts but neither of the two known metabolites nor endosulfan 
was found in blood or brain extracts. Endosulfan sulfate was the only 
identified material stored in tissues of mice fed single doses or continuously 
for 49 days. <A compound believed to be the diol was found in urine of mice 
fed endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, endosulfan diol, or endosulfan ether, 
Large amounts of endosulfan sulfate were detected in the liver and traces 
in the kidney #4 hours after animals received single doses of endosulfan 
(360). 
Endosulfan-!"¢ was fed to milk sheep. Analysis of milk samples 
showed that up to 88% of the radioactive materials remained in the cream. 
Gas and thin-layer chromatography showed that the radioactive material 
Was almost entirely endosulfan sulfate. Analyses of urine samples showed 
the presence of endosulfan alcohol and o-hydroxyendosulfan ether. Other 
metabolites present were not identified (1728). 
Endosulfan was applied to forage crops on which cattle were allowed 
to graze beginning seven days after application. Endosulfan sulfate was 
found in the silage and in the fat of only one animal. Endosulfan I and 
Il were also found in the fat. No detectable residues were found in the 
milk from dairy cows fed the treated silage (98). 
ee After spraying endosulfan (3:2 mixture of I & 1I isomers) on foliage, 
I" decreased to 30% of initial deposit after one week and to 2% after 3 
weeks, Endosulfan IT decreased to 47% after one week and to 2% after 7 
weeks, All leaf extracts contained a more persistent compound identified 
as endosulfan sulfate, Seventy~five percent of the residue was in the 
form of the sulfate after 3 weeks and 90% after 7-1l weeks (618). 
{97 
