Acute toxicity of the lampricides TFM and niclosamide: Effects on a vascular plant and a chironomid species

Journal of Great Lakes Research
By: , and 

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Abstract

The lampricides 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide have been used for about 60 years to control sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes Basin and Lake Champlain. To register these chemicals as pesticides in North America, their environmental effects must be reviewed on a periodic basis. As a part of this effort, toxicity of TFM and niclosamide to duckweed (Lemna gibba), and of niclosamide to aquatic midge (Chironomus tentans), was assessed. Results of these studies suggest that for both lampricides, the no-observable and lowest observable effects concentrations (NOEC and LOEC) exceed expected environmental concentrations, with effects only in the highest concentrations tested and the longest exposure times. Duckweed exposed to TFM indicated 7-day LOECs ≥ 4.88 mg/L for average specific growth rate and yield, with the EC50 > 9.74 mg/L. For duckweed exposed to niclosamide, 7-day LOECs for average specific growth rate and yield ranged from 0.271 to 0.569 mg/L, with the IC50 0.725 mg/L or greater depending on the parameter measured. For midge larvae exposed to niclosamide-dosed sediment, the LOEC values based on survival and growth were 26.2 mg/kg and > 82.1 mg/kg, respectively, and the EC50 based on survival was 49.6 mg/kg. Based on these data, deleterious effects on aquatic plants and benthic invertebrates are unlikely to result from use of TFM and niclosamide for lamprey control, given that the effect concentrations are in excess of the expected environmental concentrations.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Acute toxicity of the lampricides TFM and niclosamide: Effects on a vascular plant and a chironomid species
Series title Journal of Great Lakes Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jglr.2019.11.007
Volume 46
Issue 1
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description 8 p.
First page 180
Last page 187
Country United States, Canada
Other Geospatial Great Lakes Basin, Lake Champlain
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