Physiological Dependency Explains Temperature Differences in Sensitivity Towards Chemical Exposure

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 349 - 360
• Main Authors: Rakel, Kim, Becker, Dennis, Bussen, Dino, Classen, Silke, Preuss, Thomas, Strauss, Tido, Zenker, Armin, Gergs, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.11.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cloeon dipterum; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Imidacloprid; Insecticides; Laboratories; Laboratory tests; Mathematical models; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Parameters; Pesticide toxicity; Pesticides; Physiology; Pollution; Rate constants; Risk assessment; Soil Science & Conservation; Survival; Temperature dependence; Temperature effects; Temperature gradients; Toxicity; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-022-00963-2

In chemical risk assessment, extrapolations from laboratory tests to more realistic conditions are essential to address the toxic effects of pesticides on individuals and populations under field conditions. To transfer toxicological laboratory tests to differing temperature conditions, or outdoor field scenarios, the consideration of temperature dependence is essential and increases realism. Special consideration is given to the impact of temperature on direct sensitivity of organisms to pesticides, for which there are only few modelling approaches available so far. We present a concept for applying physiological temperature dependencies to toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic (TKTD) parameters in the General Uniformed Threshold model of Survival (GUTS). To test this approach in an exemplary study, temperature dependencies from studies on the developmental rate of the mayfly Cloeon dipterum were applied to the parameters of a previously parameterised TKTD model of this species after exposure to imidacloprid. Using a physiologically derived temperature correction for the TKTD rate constants, model predictions for independently conducted toxicology experiments with temperature ranges between 7.8 and 26.4 °C were performed for validation. Our approach demonstrates the successful transfer of a physiological observed temperature dependency on toxicity parameters and survival patterns for Cloeon dipterum and imidacloprid as a case study.