Toxicokinetics of chlordecone in goats: Implications for risk management in French West Indies
Résumé
The former use of chlordecone (CLD) in the French West Indies has resulted in long-term pollution of
soils. CLD is known to be potentially transferred towards animal products of animals reared outdoors,
mainly through accidental soil ingestion. Several studies indicate that soil bound CLD is bioavailable
when administered to farm animals. Currently there is a need to quantify the level of CLD absorption and
its toxicokinetic characteristics in the ruminant and particularly in the goat. These are considered as
important farm species in the French West Indies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the absorption
rate and the half-life of CLD in the non-lactating goat. The goats were administered either
intravenously (i.v., n ¼ 6) or orally (p.o., n ¼ 6) one dose (1 mg kg 1 body weight) of CLD. Blood samples
were collected at defined times up to 160 days post-dosing. CLD was analyzed in serum by highresolution
gas chromatography. A comparison of the area under the serum concentration-time curves
(AUC) showed that the i.v. route is equivalent to the oral route. Thus, CLD is considered almost completely
absorbed after p.o. administration, as shown by the mean absolute bioavailability. The comparison between
the pharmacokinetic profiles of CLD following oral and intravenous dose showed a difference during the first 14 days and a similar kinetic after this period. The half-life of CLD in serum was close to 20 days. These results highlight a possible strategy of decontamination due to the short half-life of CLD, obtained in dry goats that did not excrete fat matter.