Bioaccumulation and Excretion of Some Pesticides by Freshwater Fish Oreochromis niloticus
Shehata E. Elowa
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Helwan, Egyipt
Corresponding author: Dr. Shehata, E. Elowa
Department of Zoology
Faculty of Science
Helwan University
Helwan, Egypt
Telephone: 002/02/4535765
Fax number: 002/02/5552468
E-mail: shehataa2000@yahoo.com
CEJOEM 2003, Vol.9. No.1.: 67–80
Key words:
Bioconcentration factor (BCF), excretion, LC50, fenthion, carbofuran, cypermethrin, excretion rate (k), half life (t½), Oreochromis niloticus
Abstract:
In Oreochromis niloticus exposed to the pesticides fenthion, carbofuran, or
cypermethrin for 96 h, the static bioassay yielded LC50 values of 50, 80 and 45
µg∙L–1, respectively. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of the pesticides studied
were somewhat higher for the liver (8.5, 1.62, and 2.25, respectively) than for the muscle (7.0,
1.4, and 2.31, respectively). The record hepatic concentrations amounted to 170, 220, and 180
ng∙g–1 and the muscular ones to 185, 155 and 140 ng∙g–1,
respectively. The excretion rates of the three pesticides only showed minor differences (liver:
0.006, 0.007, and 0.006 ml∙g–1∙h–1; muscle: 0.008, 0.0061, and
0.0051 ml∙g–1∙h–1, respectively), while their uptake rate
constants were found to be 0.088, 0.017, and 0.023 h–1, respectively, for the liver
and 0.072, 0.040, and 0.12 h–1 , respectively for the muscle. It can be concluded that
the accumulation and/or excretion of a pesticide and its impact could be assessed in fish.
Consequently laboratory exposure of fish to pesticides could provide useful information on the
proper use of pesticides and how to facilitate their elimination.
Received: 15 November 2002
Accepted: 5 November 2003
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