Acute toxicity bioassay of dimethoate on freshwater airbreathing catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).
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Date
2009-05
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Abstract
Pesticides are chemicals used for pest control in the agricultural fields. They finally reach the surrounding water bodies through
surface runoff affecting the aquatic fauna. Dimethoate is frequently used organophosphate pesticide due to its high effectiveness and rapid
breakdown into environmentally safe products. A 96 hr static acute toxicity test was carried out to determine the LC50 value of dimethoate,
on the freshwater airbreathing catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). The fish were exposed to 7 different concentrations of dimethoate
(2.50, 2.75, 3.00, 3.25, 3.50, 3.75 and 4.00 mg l-1) for toxicity bioassay. Control (0.00 mg l-1) was also carried out. The data were subjected
to Finney’s Probit analysis and processed with Trimmed Spearman-Karber statistical software. The LC50 values for dimethoate for 24, 48,
72 and 96 hr were 3.38, 3.23, 3.08 and 2.98 mg l-1, respectively. At higher concentration of dimethoate (3.25 mg l-1 and above) the fish
showed uncoordinated behaviour such as erratic and jerky swimming, attempt to jump out of water, frequent surfacing and gulping of air,
decrease in opercular movement and copious secretion of mucus all over the body.
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Keywords
Acute toxicity, Dimethoate, LC50 mortality, Heteropneustes fossilis
Citation
Pandey Rakesh K, Singh Ram N, Singh Sarika, Singh Narendra N, Das Vijai K. Acute toxicity bioassay of dimethoate on freshwater airbreathing catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). Journal of Environmental Biology. 2009 May; 30(3): 437-440.