Abstract
The persistence and biological impact of the organophosphorus insecticides, Abate®, Reldan®, and Dursban®, were studied following the application of 10 ppb to a series of artificial polyethylene-lined ponds and a single natural pond inoculated with leaf litter. Disappearance of the insecticides from water could be described in terms of two phases: early posttreatment, in which rapid partitioning took place; and, a variable time period, characterized by slowly decreasing residues. Of the three pesticides, Dursban was the most persistent followed by Reldan and Abate in that order.
The rapid initial disappearance of the pesticides from water was primarily attributable to adsorption on bottom sediments and polyethylene. Polyethylene appeared to have a greater affinity for the pesticides than did the sediments. However, desorption from the polyethylene contributed to residual concentrations in the water of artificial ponds for prolonged periods.
Dursban was most toxic to cladoceran and copepod populations. Cladocerans were more sensitive to the three insecticides than were cyclopod and calanoid copepods or copepod nauplii.
Chlorophyll concentrations as a measure of algal biomass were always greater in ponds treated with Abate or Dursban than in untreated ponds, supporting the conclusion that algal blooms result from the elimination of Zooplankton predation.
It was concluded that in artificial polyethylene-lined ponds residues persisted for longer times than in natural ponds. The resulting prolonged period in which Zooplankton were absent leads to an increased probability of algal blooms.
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Hughes, D.N., Boyer, M.G., Papst, M.H. et al. Persistence of three organophosphorus insecticides in artificial ponds and some biological implications. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 9, 269–279 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01057407
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01057407