Research efforts into the potential side-effects of pesticides on beneficial organisms have focused on temperate test species and conditions. There is thus a need for studies into the ecotoxicity of ...a vaster range of pesticides under tropical conditions. The present study therefore aimed to compare the acute and chronic toxicity of the fungicide carbendazim to the earthworm Eisenia fetida under tropical and temperate conditions. To this end, laboratory toxicity tests were conducted with a tropical and European strain of E. fetida, using different artificial (OECD and TAS) and natural (LUFA and TNS) soils, and under different test temperatures (20 °C and 28 °C). In the acute lethality tests with artificial soils, the tropical strain of E. fetida was three to four order of magnitude less sensitive than the European strain, which is ascribed to the higher test temperature and (hence) higher microbial activity/pesticide degradation. The tropical strain was particularly sensitive in the tropical natural soil, which was attributed to the low pH (3.9) of this soil. The chronic toxicity tests overall also showed a lower sensitivity of the tropical strain on reproduction. These findings thus support the use of toxicity data generated under temperate conditions in tropical pesticide effect assessments. However, intensive agricultural practices in the tropics may dictate that exposure levels (and hence potentially also risks) are higher.
•Pesticide toxicity tests under tropical conditions are still scarce.•Acute earthworm toxicity to carbendazim under tropical conditions was relatively low.•Higher temperature and microbial activity may lower carbendazim toxicity.•Low pH in tropical natural soils may increase pesticide toxicity.•Data support the use of temperate toxicity data for tropical effect assessments.
To verify the continuous sensitivity of ecotoxicological tests (mainly the test organisms), reference substances with known toxicity are regularly tested. Ideally, this substance(s) would lack ...specificity in its mode action, be bioavailable and readily attainable with cost-effective means of chemical characterization. Boric acid has satisfied these criteria, but has most recently been characterized as a substance of very high concern, due to reproductive effects in humans, thus limiting its recommendation as an ideal reference toxicant. However, there is probably no other chemical for which ecotoxicity in soil has been so intensively studied; an extensive literature review yielded lethal (including avoidance) and sublethal data for 38 taxa. The ecotoxicity data were evaluated using species sensitivity distributions, collectively across all taxa, and separately according to species type, endpoints, soil type and duration. The lack of specificity in the mode of action yielded broad toxicity among soil taxa and soil types, and provided a collective approach to assessing species sensitivity, while taking into consideration differences in test methodologies and exposure durations. Toxicity was species-specific with
Folsomia candida
and enchytraied species demonstrating the most sensitivity; among plants, the following trend occurred: dicotyledonous (more sensitive) ≫ monocotyledonous ≫ gymnosperm species. Sensitivity was also time and endpoint specific, with endpoints such as lethality and avoidance being less sensitive than reproduction effects. Furthermore, given the breadth of data and toxicity demonstrated by boric acid, lessons learned from its evaluation are discussed to recommend the properties required by an ideal reference substance for the soil compartment.
Plant Protection Products can affect soil organisms and thus might have negative impacts on soil functions. Little research has been performed on their impact on tropical soils. Therefore, the ...effects of the insecticide lambda-Cyhalothrin on earthworms were evaluated in acute and chronic laboratory tests modified for tropical conditions, i.e. at selected temperatures (20 and 28°C) and with two strains (temperate and tropical) of the compost worm Eisenia fetida. The insecticide was spiked in two natural soils, in OECD artificial soil and a newly developed tropical artificial soil. The effects of lambda-Cyhalothrin did rarely vary in the same soil at tropical (LC50: 68.5–229mg a.i./kg dry weight (DW); EC50: 54.2–60.2mg a.i./kg DW) and temperate (LC50: 99.8–140mg a.i./kg DW; EC50: 37.4–44.5mg a.i./kg DW) temperatures. In tests with tropical soils and high temperature, effect values differed by up to a factor of ten.
► In one soil, effects of lambda-Cyhalothrin did not vary much at two temperatures. ► In tropical soils at high temperature, effects differed by up to a factor of ten. ► In the tropics, effects of pesticides can be higher or lower as in temperate regions.
The effects of the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin on earthworms did not differ considerably when performed in the same soil under different temperatures, but LC/EC50 values varied by a factor of ten between OECD and tropical artificial soil.
Little research has been performed on the impact of pesticides on earthworms under tropical conditions. Taking into consideration the often-limited resources in tropical countries, simple screening ...tests are needed. Therefore, it was investigated whether three pesticides relevant for the Brazilian Amazon (benomyl, carbendazim, lambda-cyhalothrin) affect the avoidance behavior of the earthworm
Eisenia fetida. The tests were performed for two days according to ISO guideline 17512 but were adapted to tropical conditions (i.e. test substrate, test organism and temperature). The results indicate that this test gives reproducible and reliable results. Toxicity values (NOEC, EC50) are lower than those determined in 14 day-acute mortality tests and are approximately in the same range such as those found in 56 day-chronic reproduction tests with the same earthworm species, which were performed in parallel. Therefore, the use of the earthworm avoidance tests is recommended as a screening tool for the risk assessment of pesticides.
The earthworm avoidance test is a practical and sensitive screening method for assessing the effects of pesticides in tropical soils.
•Parallel testing of two chemicals in nine soils with two earthworm laboratory tests.•In seven out of nine tests toxicity of zinc was similar in reproduction and avoidance tests.•Sensitivity of ...avoidance and reproduction tests toward TBT-O differed in some soils.•Results support use of earthworm avoidance test as screening tool for risk assessment.
The aim of this contribution was to evaluate whether the sensitivity of the earthworm avoidance test is comparable to that of the earthworm reproduction test (standard test guidelines for both are available). The objective was to determine if relatively simple short-term tests are useful as an initial screening step for the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of potentially contaminated soils prior to performing long-term, elaborate tests. Therefore, the effects of two model substances, zinc nitrate-tetrahydrate and tributyltin-oxide (TBT-O) on the reproduction and the avoidance behavior of the earthworm Eisenia andrei were compared using Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) artificial soil as well as eight natural soils, including LUFA St. 2.2 soil, covering a wide range of pH-values, organic matter content and texture. Almost all tests fulfilled the validity criteria defined in the two standard guidelines published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), despite the fact that the properties of natural soils differed clearly from those of OECD artificial soil. The median effective concentration (EC50) values estimated for zinc nitrate-tetrahydrate in 48-h avoidance tests and in 56-day reproduction tests were often similar when using the same soil (seven out of nine soils). However, in the case of TBT-O, the outcome was more complex: in two test soils the avoidance EC50 values were by a factor >3 higher than the reproduction EC50 values. In one of the test soils it was the other way around and the remaining soils showed comparable EC50 values in both tests. Summarizing the results obtained here and according to experiences reported in the available literature, the earthworm avoidance test may be recommended as an initial screening tool in the ERA of potentially contaminated soils. However, further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to the difference in sensitivity between reproduction and avoidance tests.
Ecotoxicological tests are often recommended for the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of contaminated soils. In comparison to chemical residue analysis that focuses on individual contaminants, ...ecotoxicological tests are able to integrate the effects of the overall contamination, including interactions between individual contaminants, as well as between the contaminants and the various soil properties. However, their use is limited by the fact that the most sensitive tests are chronic tests such as the earthworm reproduction test which lasts 56 days. In order to promote the use of ecotoxicological tests for the routine assessment of contaminated test soils, the usage of short-term earthworm avoidance tests were investigated in the German project ERNTE. According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guideline no. 17512-1, such a test has a duration of just 48 h which, although less than chronic tests, is still quite long in comparison to modern methods of chemical analysis whereby results are often available within 24 h ("on-site analysis"). Therefore, we assessed the effects of shortening the duration of the earthworm avoidance test from 48 to 24 h on the resulting ecotoxicological data. Eight uncontaminated natural soils and 22 contaminated natural soils containing a wide range of chemicals were tested concurrently for 24 and 48 h. Additionally, seven of the uncontaminated natural soils (one was excluded due to its low pH) plus Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) artificial soil or LUFA (Landwirtschaftliche Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalt, Speyer, Germany) St. 2.2 soil were spiked with two model chemicals (zinc nitrate-tetrahydrate and tributyltin-oxide (TBT-O)) and tested accordingly. It was also investigated whether the results would differ when using either standard LUFA St. 2.2 or OECD artificial soil as a control when contaminated natural soils were tested. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that a decrease in test duration in general did not result in a different assessment of the test soils. In view of the fact that an ERA of contaminated soils is increasingly starting with an on-site analysis (i.e. data are available within 24 h) it is recommended to change the existing ISO guideline, i.e. to decrease the test duration from 48 to 24 h. In doing so, the use of a multi-concentration design increases the robustness of the test results. Both OECD and LUFA St. 2.2 soils are equally suitable as controls.
A standardized bioassay previously developed with ivermectin for the yellow dung fly (Scathophagidae) and the face fly (Muscidae) was applied to test the response of 11 dung fly species to the ...presumably less toxic parasiticide moxidectin. The results were compared to existing data for the same species tested with ivermectin, albeit two new species (Scathophaga suilla and Musca domestica) were tested here with both the substances. Estimated lethal effect concentrations LC50 at which 50% of the flies died ranged more than tenfold from 0.012mg moxidectin/kg fresh dung for Sepsis neocynipsea (Sepsidae) to 0.140mg moxidectin/kg fresh dung for the house fly Musca domestica (Muscidae). In most of the species, we additionally revealed sub-lethal effects at lower moxidectin concentrations in terms of retarded growth and development and reduced body size. Mortality thresholds were about ten times higher for moxidectin than for ivermectin, hence moxidectin is indeed less toxic than ivermectin in absolute terms. Crucially, we obtained strong correlations among the 11 tested fly species in both lethal and sub-lethal responses to the two substances, such that species relatively sensitive to ivermectin were also relatively sensitive to moxidectin. Such correlations are expected if the two substances are structurally related and function in the same manner by disturbing ion channel transport. Methodologically speaking, all species used proved suitable for toxicological testing of parasiticides.
► Standard test developed for two dung fly species is suitable for sepsid flies too. ► Comparative toxicity of two parasiticides to 11 fly species was determined. ► Effects of the two parasiticides were strongly correlated in all the species tested. ► Sepsids are consistently more sensitive towards both parasiticides than other flies.
•Earthworm avoidance behavior was studied after 24 and 48h in 30 single-concentration tests and 18 multi-concentration tests.•Decrease in test duration from 48 to 24h does not change the sensitivity ...of the test.•The existing ISO Standard 17512-1 should be modified in terms of test duration.•Data presented could be useful at different levels of the TRIAD approach.
Ecotoxicological tests are often recommended for the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of contaminated soils. In comparison to chemical residue analysis that focuses on individual contaminants, ecotoxicological tests are able to integrate the effects of the overall contamination, including interactions between individual contaminants, as well as between the contaminants and the various soil properties. However, their use is limited by the fact that the most sensitive tests are chronic tests such as the earthworm reproduction test which lasts 56 days. In order to promote the use of ecotoxicological tests for the routine assessment of contaminated test soils, the usage of short-term earthworm avoidance tests were investigated in the German project ERNTE. According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guideline no. 17512-1, such a test has a duration of just 48h which, although less than chronic tests, is still quite long in comparison to modern methods of chemical analysis whereby results are often available within 24h (“on-site analysis”). Therefore, we assessed the effects of shortening the duration of the earthworm avoidance test from 48 to 24h on the resulting ecotoxicological data. Eight uncontaminated natural soils and 22 contaminated natural soils containing a wide range of chemicals were tested concurrently for 24 and 48h. Additionally, seven of the uncontaminated natural soils (one was excluded due to its low pH) plus Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) artificial soil or LUFA (Landwirtschaftliche Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalt, Speyer, Germany) St. 2.2 soil were spiked with two model chemicals (zinc nitrate-tetrahydrate and tributyltin-oxide (TBT-O)) and tested accordingly. It was also investigated whether the results would differ when using either standard LUFA St. 2.2 or OECD artificial soil as a control when contaminated natural soils were tested. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that a decrease in test duration in general did not result in a different assessment of the test soils. In view of the fact that an ERA of contaminated soils is increasingly starting with an on-site analysis (i.e. data are available within 24h) it is recommended to change the existing ISO guideline, i.e. to decrease the test duration from 48 to 24h. In doing so, the use of a multi-concentration design increases the robustness of the test results. Both OECD and LUFA St. 2.2 soils are equally suitable as controls.
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