THE TOXICITY OF LINDANE IN THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: A REVIEW ON THE ARAL SEA

The disaster of the Aral Sea is one of the biggest environmental problem for the central Asia. The extinction of the Aral Sea began in the 60’s, as a consequence of the excessive water consumption for cotton fields irrigation. Pesticides, as the γ-hexachlorohexane (HCH) or Lindane, were used to increase cotton yields. After sea shrinkage, the infertile soil contaminated with pesticide residues dispersed salts and toxicants in the atmosphere. Due to intense winds, toxic salty dust poisoned the population around the Aral Sea, with severe health problems. Lindane, recently classified as carcinogenic to humans, showed endocrine disrupting activity. Unfavorable outcomes on pregnancy and birth seems to be due by alterations in meiotic spindle formation, polar body extrusion, embryonic development. This article revises the grave situation of the Aral Sea region on the human’s and animal’s health, with regard to the effects of Lindane exposure on female reproduction and fertility.