title: Developmental toxicity of three carrier solvents using embryos of the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio.
abstract: Embryos of the grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) have shown sensitivity to the water soluble fraction of number 2 fuel oil. To determine the possible use of carrier solvents in grass shrimp bioassays, detailed concentration-response experiments for ethanol (EtOH), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and acetone were performed and LC50 values were obtained using two test methods. The 4-d assay included development prior to the time of hatch through the time of hatch, a critical life stage of these embryos. The 12-d assay included development from the tissue cap stage embryos (late gastrula) through two days post-hatch. The average 4-d LC50s for EtOH, DMSO, and acetone were 12.07, 22.57, and 6.78 g/L, whereas the average 12-d LC50s were 3.63, 12.33, and 6.94 g/L, respectively. The coefficient of variation for each test was less than 25.2%. Based on concentration-response curves, the maximum allowable limit of EtOH, DMSO, and acetone to be used as a carrier in the grass shrimp embryo toxicity studies should be <1, <6, and <4 g/L, respectively.
authors.affiliation: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHEERL, Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561-5299, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rayburn
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D033364:Decapoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents