Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Several Pesticides to Five Species of Aquatic Organisms

Abstract

The Environmental Health Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin­ Superior (UW-S) conducted tests to complete the data sets necessary to derive the national water quality criteria for seven pesticides. Acute tests with two plant species were also run. Acute 96-h static tests with a green algae (Selenastrum capricornutum) and acute 96-h renewal tests with a duckweed (Lemna minor) were completed using carbaryl, dichlorvos and propoxur. The same tests were run with carbofuran, except that the duckweed test was static. An acute 96-h flow­ through test with an amphipod (Gammarus pseudolimnaeus) was also completed using carbofuran. An acute 96-h renewal test and a chronic 7-day renewal test with p,p'-DDT were completed using a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia). Acute 96-h flow-through tests with the compounds dieldrin and endrin were completed using an annelid (Lumbriculus variegatus).