Abstract
Objective
Driven by the need to improve productivity and to secure and sustainable global food supply, pesticides are constantly used by farmers. Among the pesticides, Monocrotophos is the most locally popular pesticide used by Indian farmers. Strenuous usage of this pesticide affects the soil dwelling organisms especially the earthworms which are more deleteriously affected. Hence an ecotoxicity study against the pesticide Monocrotophos was performed to determine the dermal toxicity of earthworm Eisenia fetida.
Methods
The standard paper contact test proposed by OECD (1984) was implemented and histological studies as evidence was performed to prove the effect of Monocrotophos on the tissues of earthworm.
Results
The acute dermal toxicity (LC50) of Monocrotophos on the earthworm, Eisenia fetida was determined as 0.0036 μg/cm2. Hence the Monocrotophos was categorized as “Super toxic” to earthworms. The histological studies showed heavy damages on the earthworm tissues such as epidermis, peritoneal epithelium, Chloragogen cells, longitudinal muscles, etc.
Conclusion
The study concluded that Monocrotophos is highly toxic to earthworms and furthermore studies on the acute and chronic toxicity with OECD soil is needed to assess the actual effect in soil.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ponge, J. F. The soil as an ecosystem. Biol. Fertil. Soil. 51, 645–648 (2015).
Brito, M. G., Costa, C., Vendas, D. & Serranheira, F. Soil contamination and human health risk assessment at a former industrial site in a densely populated urban area. Proceeding: Conference on Modelling Innovation Sustainability and Technologies, Portugal (2015).
Natal–da–Luz, T., Römbke, J. & Sousa, J. P. Avoidance tests in site–specific risk assessment–influence of soil properties on the avoidance response of collembola and earthworms. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 27, 1112–1117 (2008).
De Silva, P. M. C. S. in Pesticide effects on earthworms. A tropical perspective (VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2009).
Van den Brink, P. J. et al. in Environmental and human risk of pesticide use in Thailand and Sri Lanka (Results of a preliminary risk assessment. Alterra–report 789. MAMAS Report Series No. 3/2003) (Wageningen: Alterra, The Netherlands, 2003).
Damalas, C. A. & Eleftherohorinos, I. G. Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Healt. 8, 1402–1419 (2011).
US–EPA. Pesticide fact sheet No 72: monocrotophos, https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/tiff2png.cgi/91024KQL. PNG?–r+75+–g+7+D%3A%5CZYFILES%5CINDEX% 20DATA%5C86THRU90%5CTIFF% 5C00003461%5C91024KQL.TIF (1985).
Anonymous. in Health implications from Monocrotophos use: a review of the evidence in India (WHO publications, Regional Office of South–East Asis: New Delhi, 2009).
Roberts, B. L. & Dorough, H. W. Relative toxicities of chemicals to the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 3, 67–78 (1984).
Rao, J. V. & Kavitha, P. Toxicity of azodrin on the morphology and acetylcholinesterase activity of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Environ. Res. 96, 323–327 (2004).
Filipek–Mazur, B., Mazur, K. & Gondek, K. Studies on fertilizer value of vermicomposts. Part II. The effect of vermicomposts composition of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Rolniczej, Szczecin, 211, Rolnictw. 84, 297–302 (2000).
OECD. Organization for Economic Co–operation and Development: OECD Guideline for Testing of Chemicals. Test No. 207: Earthworm, Acute Toxicity Tests, https://www.oecd–ilibrary.org/environment/test–no–207–earthworm–acute–toxicity–tests_9789264070042–en (1984).
OECD. Organisation for Economic Co–operation and Development: (OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/oecd. asp (1998).
Humason, G. L. in Animal tissue techniques (W. H. Freeman and Company, USA, 1979).
Zar, J. H. in Biostatistical Analysis (Prentice–Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abbiramy, S.K., Vinitha, V., Sangeetha, G. et al. Monocrotophos, Its Toxic Effect (dermal) on Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 10, 330–335 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-018-0381-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-018-0381-1