The occurence and mechanisms of hormesis in insects exposed to sublethal doses of insecticide

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Since their inception, the toxicological sciences have generally been guided by the tenet that there is a dose-response threshold above which chemical exposures induce a biological effect, and below which none occurs. Although this principle has been a cornerstone of all facets of toxicology and has been invaluable for establishment of harmful exposure limits and effective doses of chemicals, there is now very strong support for the occurrence of hormesis, chemical response characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition of biological effects. Hormesis (after the Greek word 'to excite') has been documented for a wide range of organisms, endpoints and physical/chemical stressors, and has garnered interest from researchers in a variety of disciplines, mainly those who study human risk assessment and the biomedical sciences (e.g. oncology and the study of aging). However, the phenomenon has been less studied by scientists who examine effects of environmental toxins on invertebrate populations, particularly over the long term.