Effects of salinity, DOM and metals on the fate and microbial toxicology of propetamphos formulations in river and estuarine sediment

S. García-Ortega, P. J. Holliman, D. L. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Toxicity studies tend to use pure pesticides with single organisms. However, natural systems are complex and biological communities diverse. The organophosphate pesticide propetamphos (PPT) has been found exceeding regulatory limits (100ngL-1) in rivers. We address whether solution properties affect the fate of Analar (Analar-PPT) or industrial PPT (PPT-Ind) propetamphos formulations and whether propetamphos and metal toxicant effects are additive, antagonistic or synergistic? The sorption, desorption, biodegradation and microbial toxicology of Analar-PPT and PPT-Ind were investigated in Conwy River and estuary sediment. Results showed elevated salinity enhanced PPT sorption, while higher salinities increased PPT-Ind retention. Higher dissolved organic matter (DOM) and low salinity slowed Analar-PPT biodegradation (1.9×10-3h-1). Analar-PPT and PPT-Ind biodegradation was further reduced by low salinity, high DOM and dissolved Zn and Pb (6.3×10-4h-1, 1100ht for Analar-PPT; 7.5×10-4h-1, 924ht for PPT-Ind). Toxicity effects of PPT, Zn and Pb in equitoxic ratio were higher for PPT-Ind (4.7μgPPT-Indg-1; 581μgZng-1; 395μgPbg-1) than for Analar-PPT (34.6μgPPTg-1; 312μgZng-1; 212μgPbg-1) whilst a toxicant ratio 1:100:10 suggested small quantities of Analar-PPT (EC10=0.06μgg-1) affected microbial communities. The combined toxicity effect was more than additive. Thus, industrial formulations and pollutant mixtures should be considered when assessing environmental toxicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1117-1123
Number of pages7
JournalChemosphere
Volume83
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2011
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of salinity, DOM and metals on the fate and microbial toxicology of propetamphos formulations in river and estuarine sediment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this