Pesticide Residues in Aquatic Invertebrates - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 322

TABLE 11.1
Summary of Pesticide Mechanisms of Action on Target Organisms

Pesticide Groups General Toxic Effect Specific Site of Action

Organochlorine Nervous system inhibition GABA receptor

Organophosphate Nervous system inhibition Acetylcholinesterase

Carbamate Nervous system inhibition Acetylcholinesterase

Synthetic pyrethroid Nervous system inhibition GABA receptor

Source: From Delorenzo, M. E., Scott, G. I., and Ross, P. E. 2001. Toxicity of pesti-

cides to aquatic microorganisms: A review. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20: 84-98;
Perry, A. S., Yamamato, I., Ishaaya, I., and Perry, R. 1998. Insecticides in
Agriculture and Environment: Restrospects and Prospects . Narosa: New Delhi.

(Winemiller and Polis 1996). Aquatic invertebrates play an important role as nutrient sources
of the aquatic food web and food pyramid. Aquatic invertebrates, for example, zooplankton
such as rotifers and copepods, are food resources for both mega aquatic invertebrates and
fish. Since energy transfer between trophic levels is generally inefficient, only 10%-20% of
energy is transferred between trophic levels, the food web is important to the ecosystem.
Bioaccumulation, which is the net accumulation of a contaminant, such as pesticides,
in and on an organism from multiple sources in the environment, may result upon expo-
sure. Once in the food web, pesticide concentrations increase from one trophic level to
the next higher trophic level throughout the food web (Figure 11.1). Biomagnification

Channa striatus
[57.66 ng/g]

Oxyeleotris marmoratus
[25.71 ng/g]

Top predator

BMF = 4.0

BMF = 10.1

BMF = 4.5

BMF = 3.7
BMF = 13.9

Pristolepis fasciatus
[14.39 ng/g]

BMF = 4.6

Parambassis siamensis
[23.73 ng/g]

Anabas testudineus
[5.71 ng/g]

Macrognathus siamensis
[44.76 ng/g]

Tertiary consumer

BMF = 1.1

BMF = 6.2

BMF = 2.4

BMF = 3.5

BMF = 10.8

Oreochromis niloticus
[15.41ng/g]

Trichogaster tirchopterus
[12.66 ng/g]

BMF = 3.5

BMF = 1.9

BMF = 5.7

Secondary consumer

BMF = 3.0

BMF = 1.0 BMF = 1.4

BMF = 6.5 BMF = 3.7

Puntius gonionotus
[4.16 ng/g]

Macrobrachium fanchesteri
[53.04 ng/g]

Trichogaster microlepis
[23.75 ng/g]

Filopaludina mertensi
[79.62 ng/g]
Pomacea sp.
[47.83 ng/g]

BMF = 0.4

BMF = 3.5 Primary consumer

BMF = 1.1

BMF = 14.5 BMF = 2.5

BMF = 6.5
Plankton
[3.65 ng/g]

BAF = 6.6 BAF = 4.4

Eichhornia crassipes
[9.25 ng/g]

Producer

BAF = 4.0
Sediment and remains
[12.05 ng/g]

BCF = 182.5 BCF = 462.5

Water
[0.02 ng/ml]

FIGURE 11.1
The bioconcentration and biomagnification of DDT and its derivatives in the aquatic food web of lower Chao
Phraya River Basin, Central Thailand. (From Robson, M., Hamilton, G., and Siriwong, W. 2010. Pest control and
pesticides. In: Frumkin, H. (ed.), Environmental Health , 2nd edn, p. 595.)