Acute Toxicity and Effects Analysis of Endosulfan Sulfate to Freshwater Fish Species

Abstract

Endosulfan sulfate is a persistent environmental metabolite of endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide-acaricide presently registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. There is, however, limited acute fish toxicity data for endosulfan sulfate. This study determines the acute toxicity (LC₅₀s and LC₁₀s) of endosulfan sulfate to three inland Florida native fish species (mosquitofish [Gambusia affinis]; least killifish [Heterandria formosa]; and sailfin mollies [Poecilia latipinna]) as well as fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Ninety-six-h acute toxicity tests were conducted with each fish species under flow-through conditions. For all of the above-mentioned fish species, 96-h LC₅₀ estimates ranged from 2.1 to 3.5 μg/L endosulfan sulfate. The 96-h LC₁₀ estimates ranged from 0.8 to 2.1 μg/L endosulfan sulfate. Of all of the fish tested, the least killifish appeared to be the most sensitive to endosulfan sulfate exposure. The above-mentioned data were combined with previous acute toxicity data for endosulfan sulfate and freshwater fish for an effects analysis. The effects analysis estimated hazardous concentrations expected to exceed 5, 10, and 50% of the fish species' acute LC₅₀ or LC₁₀ values (HC₅, HC₁₀, and HC₅₀). The endosulfan sulfate freshwater-fish acute tests were also compared with the available freshwater-fish acute toxicity data for technical endosulfan. Technical endosulfan is a mixture of α- and β-endosulfan. The LC₅₀s had a wider range for technical endosulfan, and their distribution produced a lower HC₁₀ than for endosulfan sulfate. The number of freshwater-fish LC₅₀s for endosulfan sulfate is much smaller than the number available for technical endosulfan, reflecting priorities in examining the toxicity of the parent compounds of pesticides. The toxicity test results and effects analyses provided acute effect values for endosulfan sulfate and freshwater fish that might be applied in future screening level ecologic risk assessments. The effects analyses also discussed several deficiencies in conventional methods for setting water-quality criteria and determining ecologic effects from acute toxicity tests.

Endosulfan-Induced Biomarkers in Japanese Rice Fish (Oryzias latipes) Analyzed by SELDI-TOF-MS

“…Our findings showed that endosulfan was highly toxic to O. latipes , which has also been observed for other fish species 24. In contrast, the acute oral LD 50 values for rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) and Mallard duck ( Anas platyrhynchos ) were 10 and 28 mg kg -1 , respectively 5.…”

Using sets of behavioral biomarkers to assess short-term effects of pesticide: a study case with endosulfan on frog tadpoles

“…It is now found in soil, water and air at long distances from application sites (Weber et al 2010). It can bioaccumulate over the food chain (Kelly et al 2007) and is toxic not only for the targeted insects and acarids, but also for non-target animals such as crustaceans (Dorts et al 2009;Tu et al 2009), fish (Stanley et al 2009;Carriger et al 2011), amphibians (Brunelli et al 2009;Jones et al 2009), and mammals, including humans (Saiyed et al 2003;Caride et al 2010). At environmental concentrations, it can cause mortalities (Brunelli et al 2009) and sublethal effects, such as inhibition of cholinergic neurotransmission ), alterations of hormonal and pheromonal profiles (Park et al 2001;Thangavel et al 2010), sex reversal (Palma et al 2010), and varied behavioral alterations such as feeding, swimming, breathing, and activity patterns (Tu et al 2010).…”

Histological and Histometric Evaluation of the Liver in Astyanax Bimaculatus (Teleostei: Characidae), Exposed to Different Concentrations of an Organochlorine Insecticide

“…Runoff and infiltration from irrigation brings endosulfan into aquatic ecosystems where its toxicity threatens aquatic organisms (Stegeman and Lech, 1991). Being neurotoxic to fish, even in low concentrations (Pereira et al, 2012), it is not surprising that studies have found fishes to be sensitive to endosulfan (Carriger et al, 2011). The sexes can exhibit differences in sensitivity to endosulfan because of the amount of lipid stored in their tissues (Ballesteros et al, 2007).…”