Toxicity and bioaccumulation of endosulfan to mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard)

Summary

Acute toxicity of technical grade endosulfan to mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis was determined by static bioassay. The effect of temperature on toxicity of endosulfan was also tested. The nominal 96 h LC₅₀ values ranged from 2.0 (30 °C) to 4.6 μg · 1 ^-1 (35 °C).

Endosulfan residues were measured in the fish exposed to endosulfan. The residues were dependent on the endosulfan concentration in water as well as the period of exposure. Residues of å isomer of endosulfan and endosulfan sulphate were higher than residues of other forms of endosulfan, whereas, among the non-toxic metabolities residues of endosulfan diol were the highest suggesting that diol is the final product of endosulfan metabolism in mosquitofish.