Acetochlor is an herbicide that completely inhibits shoot growth of oat (A. sativa) and mustard (S. alba) plants when used at a concentration of 2 kg/hectare.1 It accelerates thyroid hormone-induced metamorphosis of and alters thyroid hormone-responsive gene expression in X. laevis.2 In vivo, acetochlor induces formation of thyroid, bone, stomach, and nasal tumors in rats as well as liver and lung tumors in mice.3 Acetochlor also induces pericardial edema, thrombosis, circulation defects, and a reduction in the number of cardiomyocytes in zebrafish larvae when administered in tank water at the maximum non-lethal concentration (MNLC) of 9.6 µg/ml.4
1.Jablonkai, I.Alkylating reactivity and herbicidal activity of chloroacetamidesPest. Manag. Sci.59(4)443-450(2003) 2.Crump, D., Werry, K., Veldhoen, N., et al.Exposure to the herbicide acetochlor alters thyroid hormone-dependent gene expression and metamorphosis in Xenopus LaevisEnviron. Health Perspect.110(12)1199-1205(2002) 3.Hurley, P.M.Mode of carcinogenic action of pesticides inducing thyroid follicular cell tumors in rodentsEnviron. Health Perspect.106(8)437-445(1998) 4.Liu, H., Chu, T., Chen, L., et al.In vivo cardiovascular toxicity induced by acetochlor in zebrafish larvaeChemosphere181600-608(2017)