Toxic Effects of Copper‐Based and Synthetic Organic Pesticides on Activated Sludge

Abstract

Toxic effects of five commonly used pesticides on the biomass of a municipal activated sludge system were determined on the basis of the reduction in the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR). Toxicity levels of the selected pesticides were determined by employing a modified OECD 209 (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) method which was performed as batch experiments using a respirometer. S and 2,4-D were 860 and 3664 mg/L, respectively. Results indicated that toxicity effects of copper-based pesticides were higher than that of synthetic organic pesticides. CuSO 4 Á 5 H 2 O was found to exert the highest toxicity among the copper-based pesticides, whereas, C 12 H 12 ClN 5 O 4 S was determined to be the most toxic among the organic pesticides on activated sludge biomass.

Copper and copper containing pesticide as copper oxychloride toxicity and its adverse effects on animal and human health

“…Copper oxychloride showed higher toxicity when compared to organic pesticide and that clarifies that the metal concentration might have a significant effect on the toxicity degree of pesticides and with higher metal content the toxicity became stronger (29).…”