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Parikh A, Pansu J, Stow A, Warne MSJ, Chivas C, Greenfield P, Boyer F, Simpson S, Smith R, Gruythuysen J, Carlin G, Caulfield N, Viard F, Chariton AA. Environmental DNA highlights the influence of salinity and agricultural run-off on coastal fish assemblages in the Great Barrier Reef region. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123954. [PMID: 38604307 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural run-off in Australia's Mackay-Whitsunday region is a major source of nutrient and pesticide pollution to coastal and inshore ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef. While the effects of run-off are well documented for the region's coral and seagrass habitats, the ecological impacts on estuaries, the direct recipients of run-off, are less known. This is particularly true for fish communities, which are shaped by the physico-chemical properties of coastal waterways that vary greatly in tropical regions. To address this knowledge gap, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to examine fish assemblages at four locations (three estuaries and a harbour) subjected to varying levels of agricultural run-off during a wet and dry season. Pesticide and nutrient concentrations were markedly elevated during the sampled wet season with the influx of freshwater and agricultural run-off. Fish taxa richness significantly decreased in all three estuaries (F = 164.73, P = <0.001), along with pronounced changes in community composition (F = 46.68, P = 0.001) associated with environmental variables (largely salinity: 27.48% contribution to total variance). In contrast, the nearby Mackay Harbour exhibited a far more stable community structure, with no marked changes in fish assemblages observed between the sampled seasons. Among the four sampled locations, variation in fish community composition was more pronounced within the wet season (F = 2.5, P = 0.001). Notably, variation in the wet season was significantly correlated with agricultural contaminants (phosphorus: 6.25%, pesticides: 5.22%) alongside environmental variables (salinity: 5.61%, DOC: 5.57%). Historically contaminated and relatively unimpacted estuaries each demonstrated distinct fish communities, reflecting their associated catchment use. Our findings emphasise that while seasonal effects play a key role in shaping the community structure of fish in this region, agricultural contaminants are also important contributors in estuarine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aashi Parikh
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - Johan Pansu
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia; CSIRO Environment, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia; ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34095, France; Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Adam Stow
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - Michael St J Warne
- Reef Catchments Science Partnership, Mackay, QLD, 4740, Australia; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, QLD, 4067, Australia; Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, West Midlands, United Kingdom; Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, QLD, 4179, Australia.
| | - Christine Chivas
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - Paul Greenfield
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia; CSIRO Energy, Lindfield, NSW, 2070, Australia.
| | - Frédéric Boyer
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, 38000, France.
| | | | - Rachael Smith
- Office of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, QLD, 4179, Australia.
| | - Jacob Gruythuysen
- Science Division, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, QLD, 4179, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey Carlin
- CSIRO Environment, Dutton Park, Queensland, 4102, Australia.
| | - Natalie Caulfield
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - Frédérique Viard
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34095, France.
| | - Anthony A Chariton
- School of Natural Sciences, Wallumattagal (North Ryde) Campus, Macquarie University, NSW, 2113, Australia.
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Rubira RJG, Correia RR, Batista VRG, Pazin WM, González FG, Otero JC, Teixeira GR, Job AE. Assessing the negative impact of chlorantraniliprole, isoxaflutole, and simazine pesticides on phospholipid membrane models and tilapia gill tissues. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123904. [PMID: 38565392 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The indiscriminate and, very often, incorrect use of pesticides in Brazil, as well as in other countries, results in severe levels of environmental pollution and intoxication of human life. Herein, we studied plasma membrane models (monolayer and bilayer) of the phospholipid Dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) using Langmuir films, and large (LUVs) and giant (GUVs) unilamellar vesicles, to determine the effect of the pesticides chlorantraniliprole (CLTP), isoxaflutole (ISF), and simazine (SMZ), used in sugarcane. CLTP affects the lipid organization of the bioinspired models of DOPC π-A isotherms, while ISF and SMZ pesticides significantly affect the LUVs and GUVs. Furthermore, the in vivo study of the gill tissue in fish in the presence of pesticides (2.0 × 10-10 mol/L for CLTP, 8.3 × 10-9 mol/L for ISF, and SMZ at 9.9 × 10-9 mol/L) was performed using optical and fluorescence images. This investigation was motivated by the gill lipid membranes, which are vital for regulating transporter activity through transmembrane proteins, crucial for maintaining ionic balance in fish gills. In this way, the presence of phospholipids in gills offers a model for understanding their effects on fish health. Histological results show that exposure to CLTP, ISF, and SMZ may interfere with vital gill functions, leading to respiratory disorders and osmoregulation dysfunction. The results indicate that exposure to pesticides caused severe morphological alterations in fish, which could be correlated with their impact on the bioinspired membrane models. Moreover, the effect does not depend on the exposure period (24h and 96h), showing that animals exposed to pesticides for a short period suffer irreparable damage to gill tissue. In summary, we can conclude that the harm caused by pesticides, both in membrane models and in fish gills, occurs due to contamination of the aquatic system with pesticides. Therefore, water quality is vital for the preservation of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael J G Rubira
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP, 19060-900, Brazil.
| | - Rafael R Correia
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, SBFis, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - Victor R G Batista
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, SBFis, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - Wallance M Pazin
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Sciences, Bauru, SP, 17033-360, Brazil
| | - Francisco G González
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga (UMA), Málaga, 29071, Spain
| | - Juan C Otero
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga (UMA), Málaga, 29071, Spain
| | - Giovana R Teixeira
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP, 19060-900, Brazil; Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, SBFis, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - Aldo E Job
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP, 19060-900, Brazil
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Hook SE, Smith RA, Waltham N, Warne MSJ. Pesticides in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area: Plausible risks to fish populations. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023. [PMID: 37994614 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Waterways that drain the Great Barrier Reef catchment area (GBRCA) transport pollutants to marine habitats, provide a critical corridor between freshwater and marine habitats for migratory fish species, and are of high socioecological value. Some of these waterways contain concentrations of pesticide active ingredients (PAIs) that exceed Australian ecotoxicity threshold values (ETVs) for ecosystem protection. In this article, we use a "pathway to harm" model with five key criteria to assess whether the available information supports the hypothesis that PAIs are or could have harmful effects on fish and arthropod populations. Strong evidence of the first three criteria and circumstantial weaker evidence of the fourth and fifth criteria are presented. Specifically, we demonstrate that exceedances of Australian and New Zealand ETVs for ecosystem protection are widespread in the GBRCA, that the PAI contaminated water occurs (spatially and temporally) in important habitats for fisheries, and that there are clear direct and indirect mechanisms by which PAIs could cause harmful effects. The evidence of individuals and populations of fish and arthropods being adversely affected species is more circumstantial but consistent with PAIs causing harmful effects in the freshwater ecosystems of Great Barrier Reef waterways. We advocate strengthening the links between PAI concentrations and fish health because of the cultural values placed on the freshwater ecosystems by relevant stakeholders and Traditional Owners, with the aim that stronger links between elevated PAI concentrations and changes in recreationally and culturally important fish species will inspire improvements in water quality. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-24. © 2023 Commonwealth of Australia and The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachael A Smith
- Office of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nathan Waltham
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael St J Warne
- Reef Catchments Science Partnership, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Water Quality and Investigations, Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, West Midlands, UK
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Rubira RJG, Batista VRG, Correia RR, Pazin WM, Maximino MD, Ruiz GCM, Teixeira GR, Job AE. Biological responses to imazapic and methyl parathion pesticides in bioinspired lipid membranes and Tilapia fish. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131943. [PMID: 37390683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide misuse has well-documented detrimental effects on ecosystems, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) being particularly vulnerable. The current study focuses on the impact of widely used sugarcane crop pesticides, Imazapic (IMZ) and Methyl Parathion (MP), on tilapia gill tissues and their lipid membranes. This investigation was motivated by the specific role of the lipid membrane in transport regulation. Bioinspired cell membrane models, including Langmuir monolayers and liposomes (LUVs and GUVs), were utilized to explore the interaction of IMZ and MP. The results revealed electrostatic interactions between IMZ and MP and the polar head groups of lipids, inducing morphological alterations in the lipid bilayer. Tilapia gill tissue exposed to the pesticides exhibited hypertrophic increases in primary and secondary lamellae, total lamellar fusion, vasodilation, and lifting of the secondary lamellar epithelium. These alterations can lead to compromised oxygen absorption by fish and subsequent mortality. This study not only highlights the harmful effects of the pesticides IMZ and MP, but also emphasizes the crucial role of water quality in ecosystem well-being, even at minimal pesticide concentrations. Understanding these impacts can better inform management practices to safeguard aquatic organisms and preserve ecosystem health in pesticide-affected environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael J G Rubira
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil.
| | - Victor R G Batista
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael R Correia
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil
| | - Wallance M Pazin
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Sciences, Bauru, SP CEP 17033-360, Brazil
| | - Mateus D Maximino
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil
| | - Gilia C M Ruiz
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil
| | - Giovana R Teixeira
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil
| | - Aldo E Job
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente, SP 19060-900, Brazil
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A Window of Vulnerability: Chronic Environmental Stress Does Not Impair Reproduction in the Swordfish Xiphias gladius. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020269. [PMID: 36670809 PMCID: PMC9854923 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Xiphias gladius is an important fishing resource. The Mediterranean stock is affected by overfishing and is declining. In this light, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-talk among metabolism, stress response, immune system and reproduction in immature and mature females, coupling histological and transcriptomic approaches. The transcriptome of livers from 3 immature and 3 mature females was analyzed using the Artificial Intelligence RNA-Seq. For the histological analysis, ovary and liver samples were collected from 50 specimens caught during the reproductive season in the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 750 genes were differentially expressed between the livers. The gene ontologtabey analysis showed 91 upregulated and 161 downregulated biological process GO terms. Instead, the KEGG enrichment analysis revealed 15 enriched pathways. Furthermore, the binding occurring between estrogen receptors and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator, upregulated in mature females, could be liable for the inhibition of detoxification pathway. Indeed, at the histological level, mature females showed a higher density and number of melanomacrophage centers, biomarkers of stress. The present findings reveal the cross-talk among response to environmental stressors, metabolism and reproduction, highlighting that mature females invest a lot of energy in reproduction instead of immune response and detoxification.
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Fuller N, Magnuson JT, Huff Hartz KE, Whitledge GW, Acuña S, McGruer V, Schlenk D, Lydy MJ. Dietary exposure to environmentally relevant pesticide mixtures impairs swimming performance and lipid homeostatic gene expression in Juvenile Chinook salmon at elevated water temperatures. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 314:120308. [PMID: 36181938 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic organisms are exposed to complex mixtures of pesticides in the environment, but traditional risk assessment approaches typically only consider individual compounds. In conjunction with exposure to pesticide mixtures, global climate change is anticipated to alter thermal regimes of waterways, leading to potential co-exposure of biota to elevated temperatures and contaminants. Furthermore, most studies utilize aqueous exposures, whereas the dietary route of exposure may be more important for fish owing to the hydrophobicity of many pesticides. Consequently, the current study aimed to determine the effects of elevated temperatures and dietary pesticide mixtures on swimming performance and lipid metabolism of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Fish were fed pesticide-dosed pellets at three concentrations and three temperatures (11, 14 and 17 °C) for 14 days and swimming performance (Umax) and expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and energetics were assessed (ATP citrate lyase, fatty acid synthase, farnesoid x receptor and liver x receptor). The low-pesticide pellet treatment contained five pesticides, p,p'-DDE, bifenthrin, esfenvalerate, chlorpyrifos and fipronil at concentrations based on prey items collected from the Sacramento River (CA, USA) watershed, with the high-pesticide pellet treatment containing a six times higher dose. Temperature exacerbated effects of pesticide exposure on swimming performance, with significant reductions in Umax of 31 and 23% in the low and high-pesticide pellet groups relative to controls at 17 °C, but no significant differences in Umax among pesticide concentrations at 11 or 14 °C. At 14 °C there was a significant positive relationship between juvenile Chinook salmon pesticide body residues and expression of ATP citrate lyase and fatty acid synthase, but an inverse relationship and significant downregulation at 17 °C. These findings suggest that temperature may modulate effects of environmentally relevant pesticide exposure on salmon, and that pesticide-induced impairment of swimming performance may be exacerbated under future climate scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Fuller
- Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences; Department of Zoology; Southern Illinois University; Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA
| | - Jason T Magnuson
- Department of Environmental Sciences; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Kara E Huff Hartz
- Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences; Department of Zoology; Southern Illinois University; Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA
| | - Gregory W Whitledge
- Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences; Department of Zoology; Southern Illinois University; Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA
| | - Shawn Acuña
- Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Sacramento, CA, 95814, USA
| | - Victoria McGruer
- Department of Environmental Sciences; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Daniel Schlenk
- Department of Environmental Sciences; University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Michael J Lydy
- Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences; Department of Zoology; Southern Illinois University; Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA.
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Armstrong EK, Mondon J, Miller AD, Revill AT, Stephenson SA, Tan MH, Greenfield P, Tromp JJ, Corbett P, Hook SE. Transcriptomic and Histological Analysis of the Greentail Prawn (Metapenaeus bennettae) Following Light Crude Oil Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2162-2180. [PMID: 35815472 PMCID: PMC9545365 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Oil spills pose a significant threat to marine biodiversity. Crude oil can partition into sediments where it may be persistent, placing benthic species such as decapods at particular risk of exposure. Transcriptomic and histological tools are often used to investigate the effects of hydrocarbon exposure on marine organisms following oil spill events, allowing for the identification of metabolic pathways impacted by oil exposure. However, there is limited information available for decapod crustaceans, many of which carry significant economic value. In the present study, we assess the sublethal impacts of crude oil exposure in the commercially important Australian greentail prawn (Metapenaeus bennettae) using transcriptomic and histological analyses. Prawns exposed to light, unweathered crude oil "spiked" sediments for 90 h were transferred to clean sediments for a further 72 h to assess recovery. Chemical analyses indicated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons increased by approximately 65% and 91% in prawn muscle following 24 and 90 h of exposure, respectively, and significantly decreased during 24- and 72-h recovery periods. Transcriptomic responses followed an exposure and recovery pattern with innate immunity and nutrient metabolism transcripts significantly lowered in abundance after 24 h of exposure and were higher in abundance after 72 h of recovery. In addition, transcription/translation, cellular responses, and DNA repair pathways were significantly impacted after 24 h of exposure and recovered after 72 h of recovery. However, histological alterations such as tubule atrophy indicated an increase in severity after 24 and 72 h of recovery. The present study provides new insights into the sublethal impacts of crude oil exposure in greentail prawns and identifies molecular pathways altered by exposure. We expect these findings to inform future management associated with oil extraction activity and spills. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2162-2180. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Armstrong
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVICAustralia
- CSIRO Oceans and AtmosphereHobartTASAustralia
| | - Julie Mondon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVICAustralia
| | - Adam D. Miller
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVICAustralia
- Deakin Genomics CentreDeakin UniversityGeelongVICAustralia
| | | | | | - Mun Hua Tan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVICAustralia
- Deakin Genomics CentreDeakin UniversityGeelongVICAustralia
| | | | - Jared J. Tromp
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVICAustralia
| | - Patricia Corbett
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVICAustralia
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Warne MSJ, Smith RA, Turner RDR. Analysis of pesticide mixtures discharged to the lagoon of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:114088. [PMID: 32531648 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Organisms and ecosystems are generally exposed to mixtures of chemicals rather than to individual chemicals, but there have been relatively few detailed analyses of the mixtures of pesticides that occur in surface waters. This study examined over 2600 water samples, analysed for between 21 and 47 pesticides, from 15 waterways that discharge to the lagoon of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2015. Essentially all the samples (99.8%) contained detectable concentrations (>limit of detection) of pesticides and pesticide mixtures. Approximately, 10% of the samples contained no quantifiable (>limit of reporting) pesticides, 10% contained one quantifiable pesticide and 80% contained quantifiable mixtures of 2-20 pesticides. Approximately 82% of samples that contained quantifiable mixtures had more than two modes of action (MoAs), but only approximately 6% had five or more MoAs. The mode, average and median number of quantifiable pesticides in all the samples were 2, 5.1 and 4, respectively. The most commonly detected compounds both individually and in mixtures were the pesticides atrazine, diuron, imidacloprid, hexazinone, 2,4-D, and the degradation product desethylatrazine. The number of pesticides and modes of action of pesticides in mixtures differed spatially and were affected by land use. Waterways draining catchments where sugar cane was a major land use had mixtures with the most pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- M St J Warne
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR), Coventry University, Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry, CV8 3LG, United Kingdom; Water Quality and Investigations, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia.
| | - R A Smith
- Water Quality and Investigations, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute (ARI), Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - R D R Turner
- Water Quality and Investigations, Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute (ARI), Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia; Managing for Resilient Landscapes, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.
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