RETRACTED: Median lethal concentration of two pesticides, diazinon and deltamethrin, on tra catfish Pangasius hypophthalmus (Siluroidei, Pangasiidae)

Abstract

Pesticides and chemicals used in agriculture may finally enter aquatic environments and accumulate in the food chain and may cause serious ecological and health problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the acute toxicity of diazinon and deltamethrin as potential dangerous agricultural pesticides and to assess the mortality effects of these chemicals on tra catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) in the form of LC 50. Fish samples (seven fish in each test group) were exposed to different concentrations of diazinon and deltamethrin (between 0 and 40 ppm of commercial diazinon and 0 and 2 ppm of commercial deltamethrin) for 96 h in 120 L glass aquaria. Although significant difference was observed in the acute toxicity of chemicals, the very low LC 50 obtained for deltamethrin (0.10 ppm) and diazinon (11 ppm) indicates that deltamethrin and diazinon are highly toxic to P. hypophthalmus. Further studies are recommended to investigate the processes by which these chemicals affect the physiology and histology of fish and their accumulation in fish tissues. Although these chemicals are thought to be less toxic in field conditions due to their adsorption to sediments, these data are useful when assessing potential ecosystem risks.