Cardiotoxicity in African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) sub-chronically exposed to environmentally relevant atrazine concentrations: Implications for species survival

Johnson, Jaclyn Asouzu; Ihunwo, Amadi O.; Chimuka, Luke; Mbajiorgu, Ejikeme Felix

doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.06.001

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Despite the plethora of controversies surrounding the toxicity of atrazine based herbicides on non-target organisms such as amphibians [26], they have been proven to have non-target effects on animals [15,27]. For example, atrazine based herbicides are known to alter reproductive processes and development in insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, rodents and goats [15,16,[28][29][30] Vogel et al [15] reported that exposure to atrazine had significant effects on males of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) mating ability and the number of eggs his partner laid when he was successful at mating.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of the African mound building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus workers to commercially formulated 2,4-D and atrazine caused high mortality and impaired locomotor response

2020

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Recent empirical evidence suggests that herbicides have damaging effects on non-target organisms in both natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The African mound building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus, is an important beneficial insect that functions as an ecosystem engineer due to its role in the breakdown of dead and decaying materials. Here, we examined the effects of 2,4-D amine salt (2,4-D) and atrazine based herbicides viz. Vestamine ® and Ultrazine ® on the survival and locomotion response of M. bellicosus. Worker termites were treated with a range of concentrations of Vestamine ® (the recommended concentration: 6.25 ml per 500 ml of water, 0.25-and 0.5-fold below the recommended concentration and distilled water as control) and Ultrazine ® (the recommended concentration: 3.75 ml per 500 ml of water, 0.25-, 0.5-, 2.0-and 4-fold of the recommended concentration and distilled water as control) for 24 hours for the mortality test, and allowed to run for 15 seconds for the locomotion trial. All concentrations of both Vestamine ® and Ultrazine ® were highly toxic to worker termites and mortality increased as the concentration and time after treatment increased. For both herbicides, concentrations far less than the recommended rates caused 100% mortality. The speed of termites was significantly influenced by both Vestamine ® and Ultrazine ® as termites exposed to all tested concentrations of the herbicides exhibited reduced running speed than the control. These findings suggest that beneficial insects, especially M. bellicosus may experience high mortality (up to 100%) and reduced mobility if they are sprayed upon or come in contact with plant materials that have been freshly sprayed with (less or more than) the recommended concentrations of Vestamine ® and Ultrazine ®. The findings of our study calls for the reassessment of the usage of 2,4-D and atrazine based herbicides in weed control in termite and other beneficial insect populated habitats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of the African mound building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus workers to commercially formulated 2,4-D and atrazine caused high mortality and impaired locomotor response

2020

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“…They are used to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural applications ( Kunene and Mahlambi, 2020 ) and include atrazine, simazine, prometryn, propazine, terbuthylazine, ametryn, prometon, terbutryn and atraton ( Quinn et al , 2011 ; Odendaal et al , 2015 ) ( Table 1 ). Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropyl-amino-s-triazine) is probably the best-known herbicide in the triazine class and is widely used in both pre- and early post-emergent applications ( World Health Organization, 2011 ) for the control of broadleaf and grassy weeds ( Gore et al , 2015 ; Asouzu Johnson et al , 2019 ). Moreover, it is amongst South Africa’s top 25 used pesticides ( Farounbi and Ngqwala, 2020 ).…”

Section: The Threat Of Current-use Triazine Herbicidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This herbicide has a half-life of 30 days in soil and water. Its high water solubility enables it to move into surface and groundwater, resulting in the contamination of non-target areas ( Asouzu Johnson et al , 2019 ). Some studies reported that atrazine remained in the soil for up to four years after application, entering surface- and groundwater ( Farounbi and Ngqwala, 2020 ).…”

Section: The Threat Of Current-use Triazine Herbicidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, several studies have detected triazine herbicides in the South African environment ( Table 1 ), while other laboratory-based studies have evaluated the effects of environmentally-relevant concentrations on amphibians ( Rimayi et al , 2018b ; Asouzu Johnson et al , 2019 ). Du Preez et al (2005) determined triazine pesticide concentrations in the surface waters of amphibian habitats in the western Highveld region of South Africa, indicating herbicide movement to non-target areas as was also observed by Curchod et al (2020) ( Table 1 ).…”

Section: The Threat Of Current-use Triazine Herbicidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the embryonic and larval stages of amphibians are highly sensitive to xenobiotics and spend their early life stages in water bodies, amphibians are often used to study the effects of agrochemicals on aquatic ecosystems ( Islam et al , 2018 ). Laboratory studies evidenced that environmental concentrations of atrazine are toxic towards tadpoles and male African clawed frogs ( X. laevis ) ( Asouzu Johnson et al , 2019 ). Rimayi et al (2018b) reported that environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine caused ED effects such as reduced tadpole mass, gonadal atrophy, damage to the seminiferous tubule’s structure, damaged mitochondria in Leydig and Sertoli cells and disruption of germ cell lines in tadpoles and adult male Africa clawed frogs ( X. laevis ).…”

Section: The Threat Of Current-use Triazine Herbicidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Agrochemicals in freshwater systems and their potential as endocrine disrupting chemicals: A South African context

Horak

Horn

Pieters

2021

Environmental Pollution

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South Africa is the largest agrochemical user in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 3 000 registered pesticide products. Although they reduce crop losses, these chemicals reach non-target aquatic environments via leaching, spray drift or run-off. In this review, attention is paid to legacy and current-use pesticides reported in literature for the freshwater environment of South Africa and to the extent these are linked to endocrine disruption. Although banned, residues of many legacy organochlorine pesticides (endosulfan and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)) are still detected in South African watercourses and wildlife. Several current-use pesticides (triazine herbicides, glyphosate-based herbicides, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and chlorpyrifos) have also been reported. Agrochemicals can interfere with normal hormone function of non-target organism leading to various endocrine disrupting (ED) effects: intersex, reduced spermatogenesis, asymmetric urogenital papillae, testicular lesions and infertile eggs. Although studies investigating the occurrence of agrochemicals and/or ED effects in freshwater aquatic environments in South Africa have increased, few studies determined both the levels of agricultural pesticides present and associated ED effects. The majority of studies conducted are either laboratory-based employing in vitro or in vivo bioassays to determine ED effects of agrochemicals or studies that investigate environmental concentrations of pesticides. However, a combined approach of bioassays and chemical screening will provide a more comprehensive overview of agrochemical pollution of water systems in South Africa and the risks associated with long-term chronic exposure.

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Responses of Soil Microbial Community to Herbicide Atrazine Contamination

Yao

et al. 2023

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Cardiotoxicity in African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) sub-chronically exposed to environmentally relevant atrazine concentrations: Implications for species survival

Cited by 17 publications

References 54 publications

Exposure of the African mound building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus workers to commercially formulated 2,4-D and atrazine caused high mortality and impaired locomotor response

Exposure of the African mound building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus workers to commercially formulated 2,4-D and atrazine caused high mortality and impaired locomotor response

Agrochemicals in freshwater systems and their potential as endocrine disrupting chemicals: A South African context

Responses of Soil Microbial Community to Herbicide Atrazine Contamination

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