Distribution and Potential Effects of Novel Antifouling Herbicide Diuron on Coral Reefs

Antifouling agents and Fenitrothion contamination in seawater, sediment, plankton, fish and selected marine animals from the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

“…The risk posed by some pesticide concentrations observed in this study, to aquatic organisms, is discussed below. Some of the Diuron values in surface water samples close to shipbuilding industries (Shipyard A and Shipyard B) and Hiroshima port were higher than 0.1 µgl -1 , which reduces photosynthesis in two species of sea grasses (Zostera capricorni and Halophila ovalis) (Haynes et al, 2000) whereas concentrations above 1 µgl -1 found in these areas has been shown to cause significant reduction of the symbiont population in tentacles of symbiotic juveniles of the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis (Watanabe et al, 2006) and also reduce photosynthesis of the coral, Galaxea facsicularis (Sheikh et al, 2012). At Shipyard A and Shipyard B, Irgarol 1051 concentrations were higher than 1 µgl -1 , which inhibits photosynthesis in the coral Galaxea facsicularis (Sheikh et al, 2009) while 0.05 µgl -1 can cause growth inhibition in spores of the green macroalga, Enteromorpha intestinalis (Scarlett et al, 1997).…”

“…In aquatic organisms, pesticides cause a number of problems. Diuron has been shown to reduce the hatching percentage of Atermia salina (Alyuruk and Cavas, 2013), photosynthesis in two species of sea grasses (Zostera capricorni and Halophila ovalis) (Haynes et al, 2000) and the coral, Galaxea facsicularis (Sheikh et al, 2012). It has also been shown to reduce the symbiont population in tentacles of symbiotic juveniles of the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis (Watanabe et al, 2006), as well as causing abnormalities or death in newly hatched fish (Fathead minnows) (Call et al, 1987) and being implicated in burst swimming reactions in gold fish (Carassius auratus auratus) (Saglio and Trijasse, 1998).…”

Occurrence and distribution of antifouling biocide Irgarol-1051 in coral reef ecosystems, Zanzibar

“…For example, the photosynthesis and calcification rates for Galaxea fascicularis have been significantly reduced when exposed to 1000 ng/L of Irgarol (Sheikh et al, 2012) and reduction of incorporation of 14 C Madracis mirabilis when exposed to 60 ng/L and reduction of net photosynthesis of intact corals reduced by 63 ng/L (Owen et al, 2002). Due to toxic behaviors of Irgarol-1051, especially to non-targeted photosynthetic marine organisms, the countries like the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark have imposed restrictions on the utilization of Irgarol-1051 as antifouling paint to recreational boats b 25 m long (Thomas et al, 2002).…”

Pesticide Contamination Monitored by Passive Sampling in Environmental Water of Japanese Coral Island

“…Thus, it is probable that the concentration of EPN at site C in November was exceeding the guideline value of 6 µg L -1 for EPN in water environments by Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Sheikh et al [5] detected 753 ng L -1 as maximum concentration of diuron, a herbicide commonly used in Japan, in a grab sample of river water from Ishigaki, another island of the Southwest Islands. They also detected 50 ng L -1 of diuron at another site about 4 km downstream of the same river near the coast.…”

“…Previous researches on one of these islands revealed that more than ten times larger amount of pesticides are used for flowers in comparison with those for vegetables [2]. Although these backgrounds have been arising concerns about the impacts of pesticides discharged into coastal seawater on the coral ecosystems, information about the pollution level of water environment by chemicals in these islands is limited [3][4][5][6].…”