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Bromacil and diuron herbicides: Toxicity, uptake, and elimination in freshwater fish

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Abstract

Fathead minnows, 30 days old, were exposed to technical grade bromacil and diuron in flow-through tests to determine acute toxicity. LC50 values for bromacil were 185, 183, 182 and 167 mg/L at 24, 48, 96, and 168 hr, respectively; and for diuron, 23.3, 19.9, 14.2, and 7.7 mg/L at 24, 48, 96, and 192 hr, respectively. Eggs, newly hatched fry, and juvenile fish were continuously exposed to lower concentrations of the herbicides for 64 days. Growth was significantly reduced (p ⩽ 0.01) at the lowest bromacil exposure of 1.0 mg/L. Therefore, it was not possible to determine a “no effect” concentration. The “no effect” concentration for diuron was 33.4 μg/L, while the lowest concentration which resulted in adverse effects was 78.0 μg/L. Adverse effects at 78.0 μg/L were an increased incidence of abnormal or dead fry immediately after hatch (p ⩽ 0.01) and decreased survival throughout the exposure period (p ⩽ 0.05). Neither herbicide accumulated significantly in fish tissue, as bioconcentration factors were <3.2 and 2.0 for bromacil and diuron, respectively. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) injected with radiolabeled bromacil or diuron eliminated over 90% of the radioactivity within 24 hr. Parent compound and metabolites were detected in the aquarium water in both cases. Metabolites of diuron recovered from the water included 3,4-dichloroaniline and several demethylated products.

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Author notes

  1. R. J. Kent

    Present address: Toxic Substances Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St, SW, 20460, Washington, DC

  2. M. L. Knuth

    Present address: Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Blvd., 55804, Duluth, MN

  3. J. M. Huot

    Present address: School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 55455, Minneapolis, MN

  4. A. R. Lima

    Present address: , 3841 Amber Lane, 53531, Deerfield, WI

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Lake Superior Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Superior, 54880, Superior, Wisconsin

    D. J. Call, L. T. Brooke, R. J. Kent, M. L. Knuth, S. H. Poirier, J. M. Huot & A. R. Lima

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  1. D. J. Call
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  2. L. T. Brooke
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  7. A. R. Lima
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Call, D.J., Brooke, L.T., Kent, R.J. et al. Bromacil and diuron herbicides: Toxicity, uptake, and elimination in freshwater fish. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 16, 607–613 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055817

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055817

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