Toxicity of Guthion and Guthion 2S to Xenopus laevis embryos

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 250 - 255
• Main Authors: Schuytema, G.S, Nebeker, A.V, Griffis, W.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.08.1994; Berlin; New York, NY
• Subjects: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced - veterinary; AGUA; AMPHIBIANS; AMPHIBIEN; ANFIBIOS; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Animals, Wild - abnormalities; Applied ecology; Azinphosmethyl - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; EAU; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Embryo, Nonmammalian - drug effects; Embryonic Development; EXPOSURE; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lethal Dose 50; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; PESTICIDE; PESTICIDES; PLAGUICIDAS; POLLUTION DE L'EAU; POLUCION DEL AGUA; Techniques; WATER; WATER POLLUTION; Xenopus laevis; Insecticide; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Xenopus laevis; Pesticides; Amphibia; Salientia; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Test; Environment; Commercial form; Organophosphorus compounds; Teratogen; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00214270

The development of Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) embryos exposed to the pesticide Guthion (technical grade) and Guthion 2S (commercial formulation) was evaluated in modified Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay--Xenopus (FETAX) tests. The embryos were exposed to five or six increasing concentrations of pesticide in 10- and 100-ml exposure volumes of test solution for 96 h. Embryos exposed in 10-ml volumes of Guthion exhibited increased mortality, increased deformation, and decreased size as compared to those exposed in 100-ml volumes. LC50s for embryos exposed in the 10-ml Guthion tests ranged from 6.1 to 6.3 mg/L as compared to 10.6 to 11.9 mg/L for those in the 100-ml tests. The percentage of deformities at 3 mg/L Guthion in test survivors in 10-ml tests ranged from 73 to 89%, while in the 100-ml tests less than 2% were deformed at the same concentration. Mean control embryo lengths at test completion were 8.2 and 10.6 mm, respectively, for 10- and 100-ml tests. The LC50 for embryos in 100 ml Guthion 2S was 1.6 mg/L active ingredient, indicating a much greater toxicity of the commercial formulation. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values for Guthion and Guthion 2S ranged from 0.48 to 7.96 mg/L, depending upon basis (length, deformity, mortality) and pesticide formulation, and were many times greater than the existing water quality criterion of 0.01 microgram/L.