Work

CLAMity: Mixtures of agricultural pesticides as multiple stressors in a bivalve species

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Pesticides play a vital role in ensuring global food security amid a growing global population; however, their movement away from application sites can pose significant risks to the health of non-target species. Pollution of freshwater is a key contributor to the high extinction rates of freshwater species, which often face exposure to a complex “cocktail” of pollutants simultaneously. A better understanding of pesticide interactions will enable more targeted policies and land management practises to mitigate environmental damage while ensuring food security. Corbicula fluminea were exposed to binary pesticide mixtures commonly found in two rivers in the SE of England. The exposures involved individual pesticides and mixtures at a concentration of 0.1ug/L per pesticide. Molecular markers of oxidative stress were analysed and combined into an Integrated Biomarker Response (V2) value. The study found that chemical class was a better predictor of mixture outcome than mode of action alone. The study suggests future work should assess the inclusion of chemical class in mixture toxicity modelling. To the authors knowledge this is the first study to assess the molecular impacts of these pesticide combinations and to propose the use of the IBRV2 value as a standardised TU to assess deviations from additivity.

Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136692

Authors: Alice Graihagh Guille, Sarah Purnell, Simon Lohery, Corina Ciocan

Institution: University of Brighton

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,340

Funder: South East Water