Determination of 54 pesticides in waters of the Iberian Douro River estuary and risk assessment of environmentally relevant mixtures using theoretical approaches and Artemia salina and Daphnia magna bioassays

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Cruzeiro, C (Author) Other; Amaral, S (Author) Other; rocha, e (Author) ICBAS; rocha, mj (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Vol. 145

Pages: 126-134

ISSN: 0147-6513

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 46 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-2R6

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.07.010

Abstract (EN): As a case study, the estuary of the international Douro River (Iberian Peninsula) was sampled over a year (2010) at six sampling sites to determine the presence of 56 pesticides of different categories (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides). 96% of measured pesticides were detected in 79% of the quantified samples. Individual average pesticide concentrations ranged from 39 to 1 265 ng/L, indicating a ubiquitous presence of the selected compounds; moreover, twelve pesticides were above the 2013/39/EU Directive limits. Due to its highly impacted profile, a theoretical hazard assessment was done considering the average and maximum environmental mixtures of all measured pesticides to identify the most sensitive trophic level. For both environmental mixtures, the theoretical approach suggested that invertebrates were the most sensitive group. Therefore, short-time exposure assays using both invertebrates Artemia salina and Daphnia magna, were done using the referred mixtures. Data demonstrated significant toxic effects high mortality rate and abnormal swimming behaviour of the exposed animals. Both approaches (theoretical and experimental) support the analytical results, alerting for an intervention on this estuarine environment and of other comparable.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9