Cytotoxic effects of imidacloprid pesticide on HEK 293T human cells

The goal of this project is to determine the potential cytotoxic effects of the pesticide imidacloprid. Imidacloprid is a widely used pesticide in the United States agricultural system despite being banned in Europe due to its damaging effects on non-target species. This compound is a neonicotinoid and has been consistently used for insect control on crops in the United States since the late 1980s. Previous studies indicate possible DNA damage of human cells and significant cellular absorption in the human gastrointestinal tract. This study will use human embryonic kidney cells to determine how imidacloprid may affect the metabolic activity of human cells. Cells will be treated with 0.1-100µM imidacloprid. The effects of imidacloprid will be determined using cellular proliferation and cytotoxicity assays that determine the number of viable cells after treatment. It is expected that results will show dose-dependent toxicity of imidacloprid on HEK 293T cells. This study will provide further insight into the toxicity of imidacloprid and develop a valuable model system to further analyze these effects.