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Effect of hydration status on pesticide uptake in anurans following exposure to contaminated soils

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 25, pages 16192–16201 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, the impact of hydration status on dermal uptake of pesticides in two species of amphibians is examined. Absorption of pesticides in anurans occurs primarily through a highly vascularized dermal seat patch; however, pesticides can also enter through the superficial dermis following exposure. Despite the growing body of literature on dermal exposure in amphibians, little is known on how hydration status influences uptake. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of hydration status on absorption of pesticides (atrazine, triadimefon, metolachlor, chlorothalonil, and imidacloprid) in southern leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephala) and Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri). Amphibian treatments included dehydration periods of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 h prior to exposure to pesticide-contaminated soils for 8 h. Following exposure, soil and whole-body homogenates were extracted and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Dehydration time was then regressed against post-exposure concentrations to infer the impact of dehydration on dermal pesticide uptake. Increased dehydration time resulted in significantly lowered pesticide concentrations in both species (F6, 293 = 67.66, p = 0.007) for the five pesticides studied. This phenomenon could be due to an energy and/or dilution effect.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Fran Rauschenberg, Mike Cyterski, and Ed Odenkirchen for manuscript review and edits. This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the U.S. EPA.

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Affiliations

  1. Grantee to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, via Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education, Athens, GA, 30605, USA

    Donna A. Glinski

  2. Department of Environmental Health Science, Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Donna A. Glinski

  3. U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Lab, 960 College Station Rd, Athens, GA, 30605, USA

    Donna A. Glinski

  4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/NERL, Athens, GA, 30605, USA

    W. Matthew Henderson & S. Thomas Purucker

  5. Departments of Biology and Environmental Science/Studies, Washington College, Chestertown, MD, 21620, USA

    Robin J. Van Meter

Authors
  1. Donna A. Glinski
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  2. W. Matthew Henderson
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  4. S. Thomas Purucker
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Correspondence to Donna A. Glinski.

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This IACUC protocol (A2012 05–018-Y1-A0) received approval from the University of Georgia Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Glinski, D.A., Henderson, W.M., Van Meter, R.J. et al. Effect of hydration status on pesticide uptake in anurans following exposure to contaminated soils. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 16192–16201 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1830-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1830-8

Keywords

  • Amphibians
  • Dehydration
  • Pesticides
  • Body burden
  • Uptake