Effects of pesticides fipronil, 2,4-D and their mixtures in Daphnia Similis: a multiple endpoint approach

• Grant number: 18/15068-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Aparecida Moreira
• Grantee: Natália Cardoso Gallo
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/18790-3 - Environmental effects of the pasture-sugarcane conversion and pasture intensification, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of pesticides is a growing concern to the society, due to problems related to environmental contamination that can cause loss of biodiversity, and problems related to public health as well. One of the main concerns with the use of these compounds is that, since they are not selective, they can cause toxic effects on non-target organisms, posing a threat to living beings and to the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Among the pesticides widely used in sugarcane monoculture are the Regent® 800 WG insecticide, which has fipronil as an active principle, and the herbicide DMA® 806 BR, which active principle is 2,4-D, even though they are known as extremely toxic compounds and very dangerous to the environment. In addition, in order to achieve even greater efficiency, more than one product is sometimes applied simultaneously in doses higher than those recommended by the manufacturer. In this context, the main objective of this project is to analyze the toxic effects of Regent® 800 WG (fipronil) and DMA® 806 BR (2,4-D) pesticides in the Cladocera Daphnia similis by analyzing the effects of acute and chronic exposure of the isolated compounds and also a mixture of both. Behavioral variables will be analyzed, such as, responses to feeding, movement and breathing. The toxicity of water samples from mesocosms contaminated by multiple applications simulating actual field application practices (simulating spray drift) of the pesticides to the selected test organism will also be evaluated.