Question: What is rotenone?
Answer: According to the cited reference, “Rotenone is a natural toxin present in plants from the genera Derris and Lonchocarpous. For centuries natives of the Amazon basin have used this compound to induce narcosis in fish and facilitate fishing for human consumption; this practice is still used by many Amazon riverine groups. Rotenone is also commercialized worldwide as a pesticide. In aquaculture, rotenone is used to eliminate fish and other unwanted organisms from production systems.” Trade names for products containing rotenone include Chem-Fish, Cuberol, Fish Tox, Noxfire, Rotacide, Sinid and Tox-R. It is also marketed as Curex Flea Duster, Derrin, Cenol Garden Dust, Chem-Mite, Cibe Extract and Green Cross Warble Powder. The compound may be used in formulations with other pesticides such as carbaryl, lindane, thiram, piperonyl butoxide, pyrethrins and quassia. (Melo KM et al. Short term exposure to low doses of rotenone induces developmental, biochemical, behavioral and histological changes in fish. 2015 Env Sci Poll Res Int 22(18): 13926-13938)