Combined toxicity of fluoride and benzene hexachloride to rats

Sprague-Dawley rats were given various treatments of 10 ppm fluoride, 25 ppm fluoride, 25 ppm benzene hexachloride (BHC), 10 ppm fluoride + 25 ppm BHC, or 25 ppm fluoride + 25 ppm BHC for 16 weeks ad libitum. Rats showed a decrease in body weight gain, which could be attributable to BHC alone. A synergistic effect of fluoride and BHC was seen only in females given 25 ppm fluoride + 25 ppm BHC: a decrease in red blood cells (RBC) and relative weight of the ovary. Females were more susceptible to the toxicity of fluoride and BHC than males.