Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.1515/aiht-2015-66-2571

Atrazine levels in the Jaboticabal water stream (São Paulo State, Brazil) and its toxicological effects on the pacu fish Piaractus mesopotamicus

Edson Aparecido dos Santos ; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho – UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil
Claudinei da Cruz ; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho – UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil
Silvia Patrícia Carraschi ; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho – UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil
José Roberto Marques Silva ; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho – UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil
Rafael Grossi Botelho ; Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo – CENA/USP, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
Edivaldo Domingues Velini ; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho – UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil
Robinson Antonio Pitelli ; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho – UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the environmental concentration of atrazine (ATZ) in five streams located in the north of São Paulo state (Brazil) and evaluate its toxicological impact on young specimens of the pacu fish Piaractus mesopotamicus. Samples of water were collected on three occasions between 2010 and 2011, corresponding to periods signifying the beginning, middle, and end of rain season. ATZ levels were estimated by a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) triple quadrupole. Later, the quotient of environmental risk (QR) was determined based on the medium lethal concentration (LC50 48 h), non-observable effect concentration (NOEC), and the estimated environmental concentration (EEC) of ATZ detected in the environment. Histological changes in gills and liver were also studied, along with the brain activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The highest concentration of ATZ measured was 10.4 μg L-1. The ATZ LC50 (48 h) for young P. mesopotamicus was 24.46 mg L-1 and the QR was classified as “safe”. Although the QR indicated that ATZ could be safe for the tested species, it caused many histological alterations in the liver and gills of the exposed specimens, and an increase in the AChE levels.

Keywords

AChE; Gesaprim 500; herbicides; histology; HPLC-MS/MS; neotropical fish; toxicity

Hrčak ID:

136513

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/136513

Publication date:

18.3.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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