title: Sensitivity of different aquatic bioassays in the assessment of a new natural formicide.
abstract: Agrochemicals have the potential to cause deleterious effects on living organisms and therefore they must be subjected to various (eco)toxicological studies and monitoring programs in order to protect human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the ecotoxicity of a new natural formicide with a battery of three classical and three ecotox-kit tests. The former tests were performed with Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria (Lumistox test), the cladoceran Daphnia magna and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata algae, and the latter with Thamnotoxkit F(TM) (Thamnocephalus platyurus), Ostracodtoxkit F® (Heterocypris incongruens) and LuminoTox (photosynthetic enzyme complexes). In the range of formicide concentrations tested (from 0.06 to 2.0 g L(-1)), the measurement endpoint values varied from 0.79 g L(-1) for the algal test to > 2 g L(-1) for the LuminoTox and Ostracodtoxkit F® tests. Hierarchical sensitivity ranking based on the no-observed effect concentration (NOEC) values established to assess the formicide ecotoxicity was as follows: algal growth inhibition test ≈ daphnid immobilization test ≈ bacterial luminescence inhibition test > Thamnotoxkit F™ > LuminoTox > Ostracodtoxkit F®. Overall, results from the battery of bioassays showed that this formicide preparation presents low ecotoxicity as compared to the aquatic ecotoxicity of presently commercialized formicides. In conclusion, classical aquatic bioassays are more sensitive than ecotox-kit tests in the assessment and monitoring of the new natural formicide.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire des Interactions Ecotoxicologie, Biodiversité, Ecosystèmes, Metz, France.
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Burga-Perez
authors.forename: Hela
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toumi
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotelle
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ferard
authors.forename: Claudemir M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Radetski
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical