In situ assay with the midge Kiefferulus calligaster for contamination evaluation in aquatic agro-systems in central Thailand

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 71; no. 10; pp. 1877 - 1887
• Main Authors: Domingues, Inês, Satapornvanit, Kriengkrai, Yakupitiyage, Amararatne, Soares, Amadeu M.V.M., Nogueira, António J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agriculture; agroecosystems; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; application rate; Applied ecology; aquatic habitat; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Chironomidae; Chironomidae - drug effects; Chironomidae - growth & development; Chironomidae - metabolism; Chironomids; cholinesterase; Cholinesterases - metabolism; drainage channels; dry season; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; endpoints; environmental monitoring; environmental quality; enzyme activity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; glutathione transferase; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; In situ assays; Insecta; Invertebrates; Kiefferulus; Kiefferulus calligaster; Larva - drug effects; larvae; length; midges; mortality; pesticide residues; Pesticides; Pesticides - toxicity; pollution; seasonal variation; spray drift; Thailand; Tropical ecotoxicology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution; wet season; Thailand; Biomarkers; Tropical ecotoxicology; Chironomids; Pesticides; In situ assays; Chironomidae; Ecotoxicology; Toxicity; Insecta; In situ; Tropical zone; Biological marker; Climatic zone; Contamination; Pollution; Arthropoda; Invertebrata; Diptera; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.01.041

The aims of this study were to verify the suitability of in situ tests using the tropical midge Kiefferulus calligaster and to evaluate the most sensitive endpoint for the assessment of aquatic pesticide contamination. In situ tests were carried out in freshwater drainage channels (farm channels) that supply vegetable crops and receive considerable pesticide spray drift, and at channels outside farms (main channels). Moreover a pesticide-free farm was used as reference site. The endpoints analysed were: survival of the larvae, body length increment, capsule width increment, cholinesterase activity and glutathione S-transferase activity. Seasonal change was investigated as rainy season and dry season. Deleterious effects were observed at some farms especially during the rainy season when farmers apply heavier doses of pesticides. However, high mortality rates observed in main channels suggest that these water bodies are also affected by other impacts besides pesticide use. This work shows the potential of the in situ assay with K. calligaster as a tool for the environmental quality assessment of tropical aquatic ecosystems.