Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A low concentration of atrazine does not influence the acute toxicity of the insecticide terbufos or its breakdown products to Chironomus tepperi

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The acute toxicities of the insecticide terbufos and its major breakdown products individually, as binary mixtures, and in combination with the co-applied herbicide atrazine were evaluated using final instar larvae of the midge Chironomus tepperi. Terbufos, terbufos sulfoxide and terbufos sulfone were highly toxic to C. tepperi with mean 96-h EC50 values of 2.13, 3.64 and 2.59 μg/l, respectively. No interaction was observed between atrazine (25 μg/l) and terbufos or its breakdown products while the binary mixture of terbufos sulfoxide and terbufos sulfone exhibited additive toxicity. The high toxicities of terbufos and its environmentally persistent oxidation products suggest that contamination of aquatic systems with this insecticide pose a threat to aquatic organisms whether or not atrazine is also present.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altenburger R, Backhaus T, Boedeker W, Faust M, Scholze M, Grimme LH (2000) Predictability of the toxicity of multiple chemical mixtures to Vibrio fischeri: mixtures composed of similarly acting chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:2341–2347

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson TD, Lydy MJ (2002) Increased toxicity to invertebrates associated with a mixture of atrazine and organophosphate insecticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 21:1507–1514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson TD, Zhu KY (2004) Synergistic and antagonistic effects of atrazine on the toxicity of organophosphorodithioate and organophosphorothioate insecticides to Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae). Pestic Biochem Physiol 80:54–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson BS, Hunt JW, Phillips BM, Nicely PA, de Vlaming V, Connor V, Richard N, Tjeerdema RS (2003) Integrated assessment of the impacts of agricultural drainwater in the Salinas River (California, USA). Environ Pollut 124:523–532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2007) Guide for conducting acute toxicity tests on test materials with fishes, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians E729-96. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks KE, Turner PK, Wood SH, Matthews C (2005) Increased toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia in mixtures of atrazine and diazinon at environmentally realistic concentrations. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 60:28–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belden JB, Lydy MJ (2000) Impact of atrazine on organophosphate insecticide toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:2266–2274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belden JB, Lydy MJ (2006) Joint toxicity of chlorpyrifos and esfenvalerate to fathead minnows and midge larvae. Environ Toxicol Chem 25:623–629

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belden J, Gilliom RJ, Lydy MJ (2007) How well can we predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures to aquatic life? Integr Environ Assess Manag 3:364–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boulton AJ, Lloyd LN (1991) Macroinvertebrate assemblages in floodplain habitats of the lower River Murray, South Australia. Regul Rivers Res Manag 6:183–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman BT, Sans WW (1982) Adsorption, desorption, soil mobility, aqueous persistence and octanol-water partitioning co-efficients of terbufos, terbufos sulfoxide and terbufos sulfone. J Environ Sci Health B 17:447–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brecken-Folse JA, Mayer FL, Pedigo LE, Marking LL (1994) Acute toxicity of 4-nitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, terbufos and trichlorfon to grass shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.) and sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) as affected by salinity and temperature. Environ Toxicol Chem 13:67–77

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brunetto R, Burguera M, Burguera JL (1992) Organophosphorus pesticide residues in some watercourses from Mérida, Venezuela. Sci Total Environ 114:195–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castillo LE, Martínez E, Ruepert C, Savage C, Gilek M, Pinnock M, Solis E (2006) Water quality and macroinvertebrate community response following pesticide applications in a banana plantation, Limon, Costa Rica. Sci Total Environ 367:418–432

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman RA, Tu CM, Harris CR, Dubois D (1982) Biochemical and chemical transformation of terbufos, terbufos sulfoxide and terbufos sulfone in natural and sterile, mineral and organic soil. J Econ Entomol 75:955–960

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen JP, Pehkonen SO, Lau CC (2004) Phorate and terbufos adsorption onto four tropical soils. Colloid Surf A 240:55–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choung CB, Hyne RV, Stevens MM, Hose GC (2010) Toxicity of the insecticide terbufos, its oxidation metabolites and the herbicide atrazine in binary mixtures to Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. doi:10.1007/s00244-010-9560-z

  • Clements WH, Oris JT, Wissing TE (1994) Accumulation and food chain transfer of fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene in Chironomus riparius and Lepomis macrochirus. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 26:261–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Day KE (1991) Pesticide transformation products in surface water: effects on aquatic biota. In: Somasundaram L, Coats JR (eds) Pesticide transformation products: fate and significance in the environment. American Chemical Society, Washington, pp 217–241

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • De Laender F, Janssen CR, De Schamphelaere KAC (2009) Non-simultaneous ecotoxicity testing of single chemicals and their mixture results in erroneous conclusions about the joint action of the mixture. Chemosphere 76:428–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domagalski J (1996) Pesticides and pesticide degradation products in stormwater runoff: Sacramento River Basin, California. Water Resour Bull 32:953–964

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO/WHO (2006) Terbufos. In: Pesticide residues in food—2005 evaluations. Part I: Residues, vol 2. World Health Organisation and Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, pp 1059–1130

  • Faust M, Altenburger R, Backhaus T, Boedeker W, Scholze M, Grimme LH (2000) Predictive assessment of the aquatic toxicity of multiple chemical mixtures. J Environ Qual 29:1063–1068

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Felsot A, Wei L, Wilson J (1982) Environmental chemodynamics studies with terbufos (Counter®) insecticide in soil under laboratory and field conditions. J Environ Sci Health B 17:649–673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fornstrom CB, Landrum PF, Weisskopf CP, La Point TW (1997) Effects of terbufos on juvenile red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): differential routes of exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 16:2514–2520

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilliom RJ, Barbash JE, Crawford CG, Hamilton PA, Martin JD, Nakagaki N, Nowell LH, Scott JC, Stackelberg PE, Thelin GP, Wolock DM (2006) The quality of our nation’s waters. Pesticides in the nation’s streams and ground water, 1992–2001. U.S Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. USGS Circular 1291, 184 p, http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2005/1291/pdf/circ1291_front.pdf

  • Graymore M, Stagnitti F, Allinson G (2001) Impacts of atrazine on aquatic ecosystems. Environ Int 26:483–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hemmer MJ, Middaugh DP, Comparetta V (1992) Comparative acute sensitivity of larval topsmelt, Atherinops affinis, and inland silverside, Menidia beryllina to 11 chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 11:401–408

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howe GE, Marking LL, Bills TD, Rach JJ, Mayer FL (1994) Effects of water temperature and pH on toxicity of terbufos, trichlorfon, 4-nitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol to the amphipod Gammarus pseudolimnaeus and Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Environ Toxicol Chem 13:51–66

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huber W (1993) Ecotoxicological relevance of atrazine in aquatic systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 12:1865–1881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hyne RV, Aistrope M (2008) Calibration and field application of a solvent-based cellulose membrane passive sampling device for the monitoring of polar herbicides. Chemosphere 71:611–620

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin-Clark Y, Lydy MJ, Zhu KY (2002) Effects of atrazine and cyanazine on chlorpyrifos toxicity in Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae). Environ Toxicol Chem 21:598–603

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Landrum PF, Fisher SW, Hwang H, Hickey J (1999) Hazard evaluation of ten organophosphorus insecticides against the midge, Chironomus riparius via QSAR. SAR QSAR Environ Res 10:423–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson P (1984) Transport of PCBs from aquatic to terrestrial environments by emerging chironomids. Environ Pollut A 34:283–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee CM, Anderson B, Elzerman AW (1999) Photochemical oxidation of terbufos. Environ Toxicol Chem 18:1349–1353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard AW, Hyne RV, Lim RP, Leigh KA, Le J, Beckett R (2001) Fate and toxicity of endosulfan in Namoi river water and bottom sediment. J Environ Qual 30:750–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Londoño DK, Siegfried BD, Lydy MJ (2004) Atrazine induction of a family 4 cytochrome P450 gene in Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae). Chemosphere 56:701–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lydy MJ, Lohner TW, Fisher SW (1990) Influence of pH, temperature and sediment type on the toxicity, accumulation and degradation of parathion in aquatic systems. Aquat Toxicol 17:27–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lydy M, Belden J, Wheelock C, Hammock B, Denton D (2004) Challenges in regulating pesticide mixtures. Ecol Soc 9:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Maher M, Carpenter SM (1984) Benthic studies of waterfowl breeding habitat in south-western New South Wales. II Chironomid populations. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 35:97–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehler WT, Schuler LJ, Lydy MJ (2008) Examining the joint toxicity of chlorpyrifos and atrazine in the aquatic species: Lepomis macrochirus, Pimephales promelas and Chironomus tentans. Environ Pollut 152:217–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messaad IA, Peters EJ, Young L (2000) Thermal tolerance of red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) after exposure to atrazine, terbufos, and their mixtures. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 64:748–754

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miota F, Seigfried BD, Scharf ME, Lydy MJ (2000) Atrazine induction of cytochrome P450 in Chironomus tentans larvae. Chemosphere 40:285–291

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulou-Mourkidou E, Karpouzas DG, Patsias J, Kotopoulou A, Milothridou A, Kintzikoglou K, Vlachou P (2004) The potential of pesticides to contaminate the groundwater resources of the Axios river basin in Macedonia, Northern Greece. Part I. Monitoring study in the north part of the basin. Sci Total Environ 321:127–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pape-Lindstrom PA, Lydy MJ (1997) Synergistic toxicity of atrazine and organophosphate insecticides contravenes the response addition mixture model. Environ Toxicol Chem 16:2415–2420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phyu YL, Warne SJM, Lim RP (2005) The toxicity and bioavailability of atrazine and molinate to Chironomus tepperi larvae in laboratory and river water in the presence and absence of sediment. Chemosphere 58:1231–1239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn GP, Keough MJ (2002) Experimental design and data analysis for biologists. Cambridge University Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Radcliffe JC (ed) (2002) Pesticide use in Australia. Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Parkville, 310 p

  • Rakotondravelo ML, Anderson TD, Charlton RE, Zhu KY (2006) Sublethal effects of three pesticides on activities of selected target and detoxification enzymes in the aquatic midge, Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 51:360–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritz C, Streibig JC (2005) Bioassay analysis using R. J Stat Softw 12:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Sass JB, Colangelo A (2006) European Union bans atrazine, while the United States negotiates continued use. Int J Occup Environ Health 12:260–267

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuler LJ, Trimble AJ, Belden JB, Lydy MJ (2005) Joint toxicity of triazine herbicides and organophosphate insecticides to the midge Chironomus tentans. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 49:173–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon KR, Baker DB, Richards RP, Dixon KR, Klaine SJ, La Point TW, Kendall RJ, Weisskopf CP, Giddings JM, Giesy JP, Hall LW, Williams WM (1996) Ecological risk assessment of atrazine in North American surface waters. Environ Toxicol Chem 15:31–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens MM (1992) Toxicity of organophosphorus insecticides to the fourth instar larvae of Chironomus tepperi Skuse (Diptera: Chironomidae). J Aust Entomol Soc 31:335–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syakalima M, Choongo K, Mwenechanya R, Wepener V, Yamasaki M, Maede Y (2006) Pesticide/herbicide pollutants in the Kafue river and preliminary investigation into their biological effect through catalase levels in fish. Jpn J Vet Res 54:119–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor EJ, Maund SJ, Pascoe D (1991) Toxicity of four common pollutants to the freshwater macroinvertebrates Chironomus riparius Meigen (Insecta: Diptera) and Gammarus pulex (L.) (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 21:371–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomlin CDS (2003) The pesticide manual, 13th edn. British Crop Protection Council, Hampshire

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1987) Draft terbufos health advisory. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. EPA 820-K-88-001, 15 p

  • USEPA (2000) Methods for measuring the toxicity and bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants with freshwater invertebrates, 2nd edn. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. EPA 600-R-99-064, 212 p

  • USEPA (2006) Final re-registration eligibility decision for terbufos. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 126 p

  • Wacksman MN, Maul JD, Lydy MJ (2006) Impact of atrazine on chlorpyrifos toxicity in four aquatic vertebrates. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 51:681–689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Widenfalk A, Lundqvist A, Goedkoop W (2008) Sediment microbes and biofilms increase the bioavailability of chlorpyrifos in Chironomus riparius (Chironomidae, Diptera). Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 71:490–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wightwick A, Allinson G (2007) Pesticide residues in Victorian waterways: a review. Aust J Ecotoxicol 13:91–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woudneh MB, Ou Z, Sekela M, Touminen T, Gledhill M (2009) Pesticide multiresidues in waters of the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Part 1. Surface water. J Environ Qual 38:940–947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Land and Water Australia is gratefully acknowledged for providing a postgraduate research scholarship to CBC. Funding for the project was also provided by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. The authors would also like to thank Melissa Aistrope for advice on the analytical chemistry and Glen Warren for the field collection of C. tepperi eggs and providing advice on culturing and toxicity testing techniques.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Catherine B. Choung & Grant C. Hose

  2. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contaminants Section, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, 480 Weeroona Rd, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia

    Ross V. Hyne

  3. EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (Industry and Investment NSW and Charles Sturt University), Yanco Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag, Yanco, NSW, 2703, Australia

    Mark M. Stevens

  4. Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Grant C. Hose

Authors
  1. Catherine B. Choung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ross V. Hyne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mark M. Stevens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Grant C. Hose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine B. Choung.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Choung, C.B., Hyne, R.V., Stevens, M.M. et al. A low concentration of atrazine does not influence the acute toxicity of the insecticide terbufos or its breakdown products to Chironomus tepperi . Ecotoxicology 19, 1536–1544 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-010-0538-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-010-0538-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation