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Acute toxicities and effects on multixenobiotic resistance activity of eight pesticides to the earthworm Eisenia andrei

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Abstract

Investigations of deleterious effects on non-target species, including earthworms, have been conducted for a number of pesticides, but there is a need for additional assessments of potential adverse effects. In the present study, the acute toxicity of eight pesticides to the earthworm Eisenia andrei was assessed and compared. The exposures were conducted using the filter paper contact toxicity method. Based on the 48-h LC50 values, one pesticide was classified as supertoxic (combined fungicide containing difenoconazole and fludioxonil), four as extremely toxic (combined herbicide containing pethoxamide and terbuthylazine, combined fungicide containing fluopyram and tebuconazole, fungicide containing pyrimethanil, and combined fungicide containing thiram and carboxin), two as very toxic (combined fungicide containing flutriafol and thiabendazole, and herbicide containing fluroxypyr-meptyl), and one as moderately toxic (insecticide containing thiamethoxam). Additionally, effects of pesticides on the multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) activity were measured. Results showed that four pesticides caused significant effects with a recorded inhibition of the activity, which can consequently lead to a higher toxicity due to longer retention of the pesticides in the cells. Finally, for three chosen pesticides, gene expression of cat, sod, and gst was measured, and significant changes were observed. The obtained results show that earthworms could be significantly affected by pesticides commonly used in agriculture.

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Acknowledgements

The assessment of gene expression analyses was conducted within Return fellowship of Dr. Mirna Velki (Effects of environmental toxicants on expression of oxidative stress-related genes in earthworm and wheat) funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Tecan Spark microplate reader, used for assessment of multixenobiotic resistance activity, was purchased with Alexander von Humboldt Foundation equipment grant awarded to Dr. Mirna Velki.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 8/A, 31000, Osijek, Croatia

    Mirna Velki

  2. Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Antonia Weltmeyer, Thomas-Benjamin Seiler & Henner Hollert

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  1. Mirna Velki
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  2. Antonia Weltmeyer
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  3. Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
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  4. Henner Hollert
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Correspondence to Mirna Velki.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

• Exposure of earthworm Eisenia andrei to eight pesticides for 48 h.

• All investigated pesticides proved to be toxic to earthworm E. andrei.

• Four pesticides caused inhibition of the multixenobiotic resistance activity.

• Gene expression changes point to involvement of oxidative stress in the toxicity.

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Velki, M., Weltmeyer, A., Seiler, TB. et al. Acute toxicities and effects on multixenobiotic resistance activity of eight pesticides to the earthworm Eisenia andrei . Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 4821–4832 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3959-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3959-x

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