Common insecticide disrupts aquatic communities: A mesocosm-to-field ecological risk assessment of fipronil and its degradates in U.S. streams
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Abstract
Insecticides in streams are increasingly a global concern, yet information on safe concentrations for aquatic ecosystems is sparse. In a 30-day mesocosm experiment exposing native benthic aquatic invertebrates to the common insecticide fipronil and four degradates, fipronil compounds caused altered emergence and trophic cascades. Effect concentrations eliciting a 50% response (EC50) were developed for fipronil and its sulfide, sulfone, and desulfinyl degradates; taxa were insensitive to fipronil amide. Hazard concentrations for 5% of affected species derived from up to 15 mesocosm EC50 values were used to convert fipronil compound concentrations in field samples to the sum of toxic units (∑TUFipronils). Mean ∑TUFipronils exceeded 1 (indicating toxicity) in 16% of streams sampled from five regional studies. The Species at Risk invertebrate metric was negatively associated with ∑TUFipronils in four of five regions sampled. This ecological risk assessment indicates that low concentrations of fipronil compounds degrade stream communities in multiple regions of the United States.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Common insecticide disrupts aquatic communities: A mesocosm-to-field ecological risk assessment of fipronil and its degradates in U.S. streams |
| Series title | Science Advances |
| DOI | 10.1126/sciadv.abc1299 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 43 |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, National Water Quality Assessment Program, Texas Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center |
| Description | eabc1299, 12 p. |
| First page | eabc1299 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |