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Combined effects of technical grade fenitrothion, humic acids and particulate matter on cholinesterase activity in freshwater invertebrates

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 1 • SEDIMENT QUALITY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

The relative sensitivity of two freshwater invertebrate organisms to the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion was assessed by measuring cholinesterase (ChE) activity, a well-known biomarker of both exposure and effect to organophosphorus pesticides. The influence of different concentrations of humic acids (HAs) and particulate matter on fenitrothion bioavailability was assessed in the more sensitive species.

Materials and methods

The selected invertebrates were the dwelling feeding oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus and the pulmonate gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata. Acute 48-h bioassays were performed exposing organisms to different fenitrothion concentrations. The concentrations that induced 50 % inhibition of enzyme activity (EC50) were calculated. Fenitrothion bioavailability was investigated using different concentrations of commercial HA or particulate matter. Sand and a diverse selection of chromatographic resins that have been proposed as analogues of natural sediments were selected. For these experiments, animals were exposed to a fenitrothion value similar to the EC50.

Results and discussion

The 48-h EC50 values were 12 ± 2 and 23 ± 3 μg l−1 for L. variegatus and B. glabrata, respectively. Depending on HA concentration and the characteristics of particles, ChE activity was similar or higher than the value recorded for animals exposed only to the pesticide in aqueous solution.

Conclusion

The results indicated that L. variegatus was the more sensitive species of the two. In this species, fenitrothion bioavailability did not increase due to the presence of either different HA concentrations or particulate matter. The experimental approach may constitute a useful tool to predict the influence of dissolved organic matter and sediment particles on fenitrothion bioavailability and toxicity to non-target aquatic invertebrates.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the University of Buenos Aires (UBACyT). We thank Whirpool S.A. and Valot for providing some materials. Dr. N.B. Casabé is member of the Scientific Research Career, Argentine National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicología y Química Legal, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Alejandro Cánepa, Silvana B. Basack, Norma B. Casabé & Noemí R. Verrengia Guerrero

  2. Iquibicen-Conicet, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Norma B. Casabé

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  1. Alejandro Cánepa
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  2. Silvana B. Basack
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  3. Norma B. Casabé
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  4. Noemí R. Verrengia Guerrero
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Correspondence to Noemí R. Verrengia Guerrero.

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Responsible editor: Klara Hilscherova

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Cánepa, A., Basack, S.B., Casabé, N.B. et al. Combined effects of technical grade fenitrothion, humic acids and particulate matter on cholinesterase activity in freshwater invertebrates. J Soils Sediments 13, 775–782 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0644-4

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