One area of attack in the body is in the cells of the central nervous system. Some of the signs of intoxication in birds include muscle incoordination, feathers fluffed or held tightly to the body, wings drooped and the neck pulled in. Remission of signs of intoxication take about a week. The compound is not toxic to bees. Nearly all of the toxicity of the compound is lost in five to six days of spring sunlight or two to three days of summer sunlight.
Rotenone is a highly active but short-lived photosensitizer.
This means that an organism consuming the compound develops a strong sensitivity to the sun for a short time. A number of photodecomposition products are formed when bean leaves are exposed to light. It is also sensitive to heat with, much of the rotenone quickly lost at high temperatures. Rotenone is rapidly broken down in soil and in water. Because of its short half-life and because it does not readily leach from soil, it is not expected to be a groundwater pollutant.