Effects of river water and salinity on the toxicity of deltamethrin to freshwater shrimp, cladoceran, and fish

Deltamethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide used extensively to control invertebrate pests on cotton and other crops. It is acutely toxic to nontarget aquatic organisms, but existing toxicity data are mostly from toxicity tests using purified laboratory water that differs greatly from the turbid, high-conductivity rivers in the cotton-growing regions of Australia. The aim of this study was to determine whether the water quality variables conductivity, suspended particles, and dissolved organic matter alter the toxicity of deltamethrin to freshwater crustaceans and a fish. We tested three Australian native species: a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia), a freshwater shrimp (Paratya australiensis), and larvae of the eastern rainbow fish (Melanotaenia duboulayi). Conductivity of the test solutions ranged from 200 to 750 μS/cm, but such changes did not modify the toxicity of deltamethrin to any of the test species. However, the toxicity of deltamethrin to C. cf. dubia and P. australiensis in river water was significantly decreased (1.8-fold to 6.3-fold reduction) compared to that in laboratory water. Variability in the toxicity data limited our ability to detect differences between laboratory and river water for M. duboulayi. Despite reductions in toxicity in natural waters, deltamethrin remained highly toxic [all L(E)C50 values <0.26 μg/L] to all organisms tested; thus, further investigation of the hazard of deltamethrin is warranted. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Ecotoxicity Thresholds for Ametryn, Diuron, Hexazinone and Simazine in Fresh and Marine Waters

Triazine and urea herbicides are two groups of photosystem II inhibiting herbicides frequently detected in surface, ground and marine waters. Yet, there are few water quality guidelines for herbicides. Ecotoxicity thresholds (ETs) for ametryn, hexazinone and simazine (triazine herbicides) and diuron (a urea herbicide) were calculated using the Australian and New Zealand method for deriving guideline values to protect fresh and marine ecosystems. Four ETs were derived for each chemical and ecosystem that should theoretically protect 99, 95, 90 and 80% of species (i.e. PC99, PC95, PC90 and PC80, respectively). For all four herbicides, the phototrophic species were significantly more sensitive than non-phototrophic species, and therefore, only the former data were used to calculate the ETs. Comparison of the ET values to measured concentrations in 2606 samples from 15 waterways that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (2011–2015) found three exceedances of the simazine PC99, regular exceedances (up to 30%) of the PC99 in a limited number of rivers for ametryn and hexazinone and frequent (> 40%) exceedances of the PC99 and PC95 ETs in at least four waterways for diuron. There were no exceedances of the marine ETs in inshore reef areas. Further, ecotoxicity data are required for ametryn and hexazinone to fresh and marine phototrophic species, for simazine to marine phototrophic species, for tropical phototrophic species, repeated pulse exposures and long-term (2 to 12 months) exposures to environmentally relevant concentrations.Griffith Sciences, Griffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryNo Full Tex

The presence of chemicals exuded by fish affects the life-history response of Ceriodaphnia cf. Dubia to chemicals with different mechanisms of action

The toxicity of chemicals with different mechanisms of action (3,4-dichloroaniline, fenoxycarb, and chlorpyrifos) to the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia was examined in the presence and absence of chemicals exuded by fish, termed fish kairomones. A range of life-history traits were examined, including mean brood sizes, survival, net reproductive rate (Ro) and population growth rate (r). Cladocerans exposed to 3,4-dichloroaniline showed similar sensitivities in the presence and absence of fish kairomones with respect to all of the life-history traits examined. The presence of fish kairomones reduced the sensitivity of cladocerans to fenoxycarb with respect to mean brood sizes and r but increased their sensitivity in terms of Ro. The presence of fish kairomones increased the sensitivity of cladocerans to chlorpyrifos with respect to survival, r, Ro, and mean brood sizes. The general trends observed were similar to those shown when C. cf. dubia was exposed to these chemicals under low food conditions, and it is suggested that the effects of fish kairomones on toxicity may be attributed to the reduction in feeding rates observed when C. cf. dubia is exposed to fish kairomones

Assessing the biological relevance of exposing freshwater organisms to atrazine and molinate in environmentally realistic exposure test systems

Assessing the toxicity of chemicals in treated laboratory water may not accurately represent the toxicity of chemicals in natural aquatic systems. In natural water, dissolved organic matter, suspended particulate matter, and sediment play key roles in the sorption of contaminants from the water. Our previously published series of papers illustrated that the presence of sediment in aquatic toxicity testing systems significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the bioavailability of the herbicides atrazine and molinate to five Australian freshwater organisms. It is not clear whether the reduced bioavailability means that the trigger values (TVs) in the current Australian and New Zealand water quality guidelines, which are calculated using toxicity data from water-only toxicity tests, provide appropriate environmental protection. Several new sets of TVs were derived in the present study and were compared to each other and to the current Australian and New Zealand TVs for atrazine and molinate. The current Australian and New Zealand TVs for atrazine and molinate provided appropriate protection to Australian freshwater species. Australian freshwater species have a sensitivity distribution similar to those of overseas species to atrazine and molinate. © 2008 SETAC

Food concentration affects the life history response of Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia to chemicals with different mechanisms of action

The effect of three chemicals with different mechanisms of action (3,4-dichloroaniline, fenoxycarb, and chlorpyrifos) on the life history response of the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia was examined under both limited (3 - 104 cells/mL) and abundant (15 - 104 cells/mL) food conditions. Toxicity tests were conducted at both food concentrations simultaneously for each chemical, and cladocerans were examined daily from less than 24h old until their death. A range of life history parameters were calculated, including mean brood sizes, survival, net reproductive rate, and population growth rate. The toxicity of 3,4-dichloroaniline was not significantly affected by food concentration. However, limited food significantly decreased the toxicity of fenoxycarb, and significantly increased the toxicity of chlorpyrifos. The effect of food concentration on toxicity appears to depend on the mechanism by which the chemical exerts its toxicity and on food-chemical interactions. Possible mechanisms for the different effects of food concentration on toxicity are discussed. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)

The toxicity and bioavailability of atrazine and molinate to Chironomus tepperi larvae in laboratory and river water in the presence and absence of sediment

Acute (10 day) semi-static toxicity tests in which the midge, Chironomus tepperi, were exposed to atrazine and molinate were conducted in laboratory water and in river water, in the absence and presence of sediment. The bioavailability measured as median lethal concentrations (LC50) and 95% fiducial limits (FLs) of atrazine to C. tepperi in laboratory water in the absence and presence of sediment were 16.6 (14.3-19.4) and 21.0 (18.2-24.1) mg l-1, respectively while the corresponding values in river water were 16.7 (14.7-19.0) and 22.7 (20.3-25.4) mg l-1, respectively. For molinate, the LC50 and FL values in laboratory water in the absence and presence of sediment were 8.8 (6.8-11.4) and 14.3 (12.4-16.4) mg l -1, respectively and the corresponding values in river water were 9.3 (7.6-11.3) and 14.5 (12.4-16.9) mg l-1, respectively. Atrazine has low toxicity (LC50 > 10 mg l-1) while molinate has moderate toxicity (1 mg l-1 0.05) reduce the bioavailability of either chemical to C. tepperi. However, the presence of sediment did significantly (P < 0.05) reduce the bioavailability of both atrazine and molinate to C. tepperi. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Toxicity of Atrazine and Molinate to the Cladoceran Daphnia carinata and the Effect of River Water and Bottom Sediment on Their Bioavailability

Atrazine and molinate are widely used herbicides and concern has been raised about their potential deleterious impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Although there have been some studies on the toxicity of herbicides to aquatic organisms using laboratory or natural water, information on the effect of sediments, suspended particulates, and dissolved organic matter on their bioavailability is quite limited. This study aims to provide toxicity data that considers these factors and the effect that these factors have on bioavailability. In this study, the toxicity of the test chemicals was calculated following the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) methods, whereas change in bioavailability was measured using EC 50 values based on measured initial concentrations of the test chemicals. The acute (48-h) static toxicity of atrazine and molinate to the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia carinata was determined in cladoceran water and river water in the absence and presence of sediment. The 48-h EC50 (immobilization) values of atrazine to D. carinata ranged from 22.4 to 26.7 mg/L, while the corresponding values for molinate ranged from 18.3 to 33.6 mg/L, respectively. Both chemicals were classed as having low acute toxicity to D. carinata. The presence of dissolved organic matter and suspended particles in river water did not significantly (p > 0.05) reduce the bioavailability (measured as toxicity) of atrazine to D. carinata compared to that tested in cladoceran water. The presence of sediment, however, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the bioavailability (48-h EC50) of atrazine in cladoceran water, from 24.6 to 30.7 mg/L, and in river water, from 22.4 to 31.0 mg/L. Similarly, the presence of sediment in cladoceran water, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the bioavailability (48-h EC50) of molinate, from 26.6 to 46.4 mg/L, and in river water, from 22.5 to 45.6 mg/L

Sensitivity of offspring to chronic 3,4-dichloroaniline exposure varies with maternal exposure

Many anthropogenic pollutants are present in aquatic systems for extended periods of time. Populations in the field may be exposed to toxicants for several generations, which may affect their sensitivity to toxicants. Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia mass cultures were maintained for four generations in various concentrations of 3,4-dichoroaniline (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15μg/L) and were reestablished every generation using fourth-brood neonates. Each generation, chronic toxicity tests were initiated using fourth-brood neonates from each mass culture treatment. Significantly (P<0.05) reduced sensitivity to 3,4-dichloroaniline compared to control animals was shown by F1 offspring from mothers exposed to 15μg/L, F2 offspring from mothers exposed to 5, 10, and 15μg/L, F3 offspring from mothers exposed to 10 and 15μg/L, and F4 offspring from mothers exposed to all 3,4-dichloroaniline treatments (2.5, 5, 10, and 15μg/L). Possible explanations for the development of tolerance, and the possible implications of tolerance, are discussed. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Some life history responses of the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia to variations in population density at two different food concentrations

The combined effects of food concentration and population density on some life history characteristics of the small-bodied cladoceran Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia were studied by examining animals maintained at densities of 100-3000 individuals 1-1 for 8 days that had been fed either abundant (30 × 104 algal cells ml-1 ind-1) or limited (5 × 104 algal cells ml-1 ind-1) food. The amount of food provided significantly (p0.05) effect on the age at sexual maturity. This indicated that the effects observed in crowded animals were not the result of negative effects due to the increased food concentrations, but were an adaptive response to crowding