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A Comparative Study on the Toxicity of a Synthetic Pesticide, Dichlorvos and a Neem based Pesticide, Neem-On to Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

Bilal Ahmad Bhat1*, Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat1, Santosh Vishwakarma1, Alok Verma2and Geeta Saxena1

1动物学,Govt. Science and Commerce College Benazir, Bhopal, 462 008 India

2动物学,Govt. College Lateri vidisha, 464 114 India

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.7.1.24

Fish and other organisms are affected by pesticides which pollute the natural water through agricultural runoff. Fishes are common bioindicators of water pollution. In the present study bioassay of synthetic pesticide, Dichlorvos and a plant origin natural pesticide, Neem-On was separately done onLabeo rohita.Data obtained from the toxicity tests were evaluated using the Probit Analysis Statistical Method. The 96h LC50of Dichlorvos and Neem-On was found to be 16.71ppm, 42.66ppm respectively. The fish exhibited erratic swimming, copious mucus secretion, loss of equilibrium and hitting to the walls of test tank prior to mortality. In this study, Neem-On was less toxic to fish as compared to Dichlorvos. Plant based pesticides are biodegradable and are target specific than the highly persistent broad spectrum synthetic chemicals. Therefore, use of plant based pesticides is less disastrous and more ecofriendly.


Dichlorvos; Neem-On; Labeo Rohita; Toxicity; 96h LC50

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Bhat BA、Bhat IA Vishwakarma年代,胆量,Saxena G. A Comparative Study on the Toxicity of a Synthetic Pesticide, Dichlorvos and a Neem based Pesticide,Neem-On to Labeo rohita ( Hamilton ). Curr world Environ 2012;7(1):157-161 DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.7.1.24

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Bhat BA、Bhat IA Vishwakarma年代,胆量,Saxena G. A Comparative Study on the Toxicity of a Synthetic Pesticide, Dichlorvos and a Neem based Pesticide,Neem-On to Labeo rohita ( Hamilton ). Curr world Environ 2012;7(1):157-161. Available from://www.a-i-l-s-a.com?p=369/


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Received: 2012-02-15
Accepted: 2012-03-29

Introduction

Increased used of pesticide results in the excess inflow of toxic chemicals, mainly in to the aquatic ecosystem (Baskaranet al., 1989; Kalavanthyet al., 2001). The aquatic environment is currently under threat by the indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides by the human activities and causing high risk to non-target organisms (Kumaret. al., 2010). Among different classes of pesticides, organophosphates are more frequently used, because of their high insecticidal property, low mammalian toxicity, less persistence and rapid biodegradability in the environment (Singhet al., 2010). Dichlorvos is recommended for application as a high or a low volume spray on crops such as paddy, wheat, soyabean, apple, sugarcane, mustard, sunflower and cashew. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has classified dichlorvos as toxicity class 1 highly toxic (URL: 1). Several species of fish are susceptible to deleterious effects when exposed to heavy metals, pesticides and other environmental stressors (Khangratet al., 1988; Areechon and Plump, 1990).

To overcome the hazardous effects of these organic pesticides, recent emphasis is on the use of natural pesticides, which are usually of plant origin. Some plants contain compounds of various classes that have insecticidal, piscicidal and molluscicidal properties. Unlike synthetic chemical pesticides, which leave harmful residues in the aquatic environment (Koesomadinata, 1980; Cagauan, 1990; Cagaun and Arce, 1992) botanical insecticides are believed to be more environmentally friendlier because they are easily biodegraded and leave no residues in the environment. Azadirachtin derived from neem (Azadirachta indicaA. Juss) is a very effective and extensively used pesticide. Pesticides based on azadirachtin may have direct adverse effects on aquatic organisms and their toxicity depends on various factors. It has been reported that neem extracts in aquatic environments are lethal to benthic populations and drastically decrease the number of organisms in the food web and nutrient cycling process (Goktepeet al., 2002; El-Shazlyet al., 2000). Pesticides containing bioactive compounds from the neemplant,Azadirachta indicaJuss are reported to be target specific and comparatively less toxic.

However little work has been done on the toxic effect of neem based pesticides on fish. It is possible to substitute organic pesticides with the pesticides of plant origin. Hence the present study was carried out to evaluate the comparative effect of organophosphate pesticide Dichlorvos and neembased pesticide Neem-On toLabeo rohita(Ham.).

Material and Methods

Healthy and active adultLabeo rohitawere obtained from Patra fish farm barkhedi Bhopal (M.P). They weighed 55g±1g and their length was in the range 15cm±1. They were brought to laboratory carefully in oxygen filled polythene bags in card board boxes to avoid any injury and disinfected by giving a bath for five minutes in KMno4solution. Thereafter, they were transferred to glass aquariums filled with dechlorinated water. The fishes were acclimated to the laboratory conditions for at least 20 days prior to the experiment. During acclimatization fishes were fed daily with commercial fish food which was given at morning hours. Water was replaced every 24h after feeding in order to maintain a healthy environment for the fish during acclimation and experimental period.

This ensures sufficient oxygen supply for the fish and the environment is devoid of any accumulated metabolic wastes. Dead fishes when ever located were removed immediately to avoid fouling of the water.

Water quality characteristics were determined and maintained. Nuvan (dichlorvos 76% EC) manufactured by Syngenta India ltd. 14, J. Tata road, Mumbai and Neem-On Manufactured by Jai Kissan Agro Pvt. Ltd., Sangam nagar, Indore, (M.P.) purchased from local market were used for evaluation of their toxicity to fish. . For determining LC50concentration different stock solutions were prepared, separate glass aquariums were taken and different concentrations of Dichlorvos and Neem-on were added from the stock solution. Simultaneously a control set was run with the experiment. During assay no food was administered to fishes. The LC50concentration for 96h was calculated by probit analysis method of Finney’s (1971). The control, Neem-On and Dichlorvos exposed fish were kept under continuous observation during experimental periods.

Results

The 96h LC50value of Dichlorvos and Neem-On was found to be 16.71ppm and 42.66ppm respectively. The LC50concentration for 96h was calculated by probit analysis method of Finney’s (1971). Table 1 and 2 shows the relation between the Dichlorvos, Neem-On concentration and the mortality rate of Labeo rohita and the graphs below show the plot of Finney’s probits against log10 conc. for calculating LC50value of both the pesticides.

Table 1: For Dichlorvos Table 1: For Dichlorvos
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表2:Neem-on 表2:Neem-on
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After exposure of both the pesticides, theLabeo rohitashowed behavioral changes, they aggregated at one corner of aquarium, irregular, erratic and darting swimming movements and loss of equilibrium. They slowly became lethargic, hyper excited, restless and secreted excess mucus all over their bodies. The fish exhibited peculiar behavior of trying to leap out from the pesticide medium which can be viewed as an escaping phenomenon. They often spiral rolled at intervals and finally the fishes sank to bottom with their least operculum movements and died with their mouth opened. However, the behavioral changes were more prominent for the synthetic pesticide Dichlorvos as compared to Neem-on.

Graph of Neem-0n and Graph of Dichlorvos Graph of Neem-0n and Graph of Dichlorvos
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Discussion

Newer biological pesticides are developed to replace deleterious chemical pesticides. Even though chemical pesticides are target specific and effective, their impact on the environment is mostly deleterious. Plant based pesticides contain active principles with low half-life period and their effects on the environment are not too detrimental (Sharmaet al., 1995). In the present study, the pesticide containing azadirachtin is less toxic to fish compared to Dichlorvos. The 96h LC50 of Dichlorvos is 16.71 ppm. Whereas azadirachtin is much higher 42.66ppm indicating the less toxic nature of the plant based pesticide.Daset al., 2002 have studied the acute toxicity of neem in the fingerlings of Indian major carps i.e.,Labeo rohita, Catla catlaandCirrhinus mrigalaand the 96h LC50values were found to be 2.36, 2.04 and 2.78ppm respectively. Hassaneinet al.,2007 reported the 96h LC50value of a neem biopesticide (Triology) on the grass carp fish,Ctenopharyngodonidellaand was found to be 112ppm. Cagauanet al. (2004) showed that the lethal concentration of neem to Nile tilapiaOreochromis niloticusL. was 12.4 ml/L and mosquito fishGambusia affinisBaird and Girard was 8.31 ml/L and the corresponding 96 h LC50 values were 2.57 and 3.0 ml/L). The LC50values of Dichlorvos has been reported by various workers as inCyprinus carpio6gm it was 0.34ppm for 96h (Vermaet al.,1981) inCirrhinusmrigalait was 9.1ppm for 96h (Velmuruganet al.,2009) and inCtenopharyngodon idellait was 13.1ppm for 24h (K.S Tilak and Swarna Kumari 2009).

Comparison of the LC50值明显表明,基于植物的害虫icide is less toxic compared to the chemical one. To reduce the chemical load on the environment, it is suggested that use of plant based pesticides should be encouraged (Schmutterer, 1990). However, care should be taken to use even the plant based pesticide at moderate levels. Furthermore, plant based pesticides disintegrate easily into constituent elements without leaving any indelible impression in different regions of the environment (Khan and Ahmed, 2000). It is advocated that more and more plant products should be developed with proper and targeted action and this eventually helps in keeping the environment free from hazardous chemicals. From the present study, it could be concluded that Dichlorvos contamination is dangerous to aquatic ecosystems, and this fact should be taken into consideration when this insecticide is used in agriculture or in the control of mosquito populations. It can be also concluded that although neem based pesticides are considered as less toxic and environmental friendly, but precautions must be taken when it is used in fish inhabiting areas since the excess application can affect the life of organisms. This type of study can also be useful to compare the sensitivity of the various species of aquatic animals and potency of chemicals using LC50values and to derive safe environvimental concentration by which there is no lethality and stress to the animals.

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