Abamectin in the aquatic environment

Abstract

Abamectin, widely used as a veterinary anthelmintic, medicine against a variety of animal parasites and insects, can runoff from the sites of application and becomes an aquatic pollutant. The aim of this study was to identify the toxicity of abamectin on bacteria, algae, daphnids, and fish. An extremely high toxicity of avermectin to the survival and reproduction of Daphnia magna was observed in 21-day exposure tests. Zebrafish and the algae Scenedesmus subspicatus are less sensitive to avermectin. The compound is expected to have adverse effects on the aquatic environment due to its high toxicity, even at very low concentrations, to daphnids and to fish.

Short-Time Derivatization Method for Analysis of Abamectin in Water Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Fluorescence Detector

“…The name abamectin refers to the mixture of two homologues (Figure 1), avermectin B 1a (≥80%) and avermectin B 1b (≤20%) [5]. Both homologues degrade by oxidative and photooxidative processes, having half-lives shorter than 24 h in aquatic environments [3] [6]. The transformation product 8,9-Z-avermectin B 1a , as well as avermectins B 1a and B 1b are considered to be of toxicological importance [7].…”

“…In comparison to older pesticides, abamectin is effective using lower doses; nevertheless, ecotoxicological assessments have found high ecotoxicity towards fishes [2] [3] [6]. Tisler and Erzen [6] assessed the abamectin ecotoxicity towards algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus), bacteria (Vibrio fischeri NRRL-B-11177), daphnids (Daphnia magna), and fishes (Danio rerio).…”

“…Tisler and Erzen [6] assessed the abamectin ecotoxicity towards algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus), bacteria (Vibrio fischeri NRRL-B-11177), daphnids (Daphnia magna), and fishes (Danio rerio). According to the EU classification criteria for dangerous substances, the authors concluded that abamectin was highly toxic for aquatic organisms.…”

Avaliação dos efeitos do agrotóxico Vertimec® 18 CE em ecossistemas de água doce por meio de estudos experimentais em laboratório e in situ

“…A classificação toxicológica do Vertimec ® 18 CE é na classe III, considerada como um produto "medianamente tóxico". Sendo assim, este produto pode oferecer riscos ao ambiente aquático, especialmente pelo uso freqüente dessa substância (Tišler & Erţen, 2006) (Burg et al, 1979). Estes compostos são pouco solúveis em água, mas altamente lipofílicos e facilmente solúveis em muitos solventes orgânicos .…”

“…Por exemplo, em artrópodes e nematódeos, a interação com os receptores GABAérgicos presentes na membrana pós-sináptica estimula o fluxo de íons cloreto para o interior das célula nervosas causando a interrupção dos sinais neurais (Tišler & Erţen, 2006).…”