Production of bisphenol A (BPA) analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) has recently increased, due to clear evidence of adverse effects of BPA on humans and wildlife. Bisphenols (BPs) have already been released into aquatic environment without previous available information about potential adverse effects of BPs and their potential risk to aquatic ecosystems. In this study, lethal and sublethal effects of BPF and BPAF to bacteria, algae, crustacea and fish embryos were investigated and the results were compared to the adverse effects obtained for BPA. We found that BPAF was the most toxic compound to Daphnia magna, Danio rerio and Desmodesmus subspicatus; the lowest 72 h EC50 (median effective concentration) and 21 d NOEC (no observed effect concentration) values were determined at 2.2 mg/L regarding zebrafish hatching success and 0.23 mg/L of BPAF obtained for growth and reproduction of water fleas, respectively. In most cases, BPA was more toxic to D. magna, D. rerio and D. subspicatus in comparison to BPF, but pigmentation of zebrafish embryos after 48 h of exposure and reproduction of water fleas after 21-day D. magna reproductive test exposure to BPF were much more impaired. Risk quotients (measured environmental concentration/21 d NOEC) showed that BPA, BPF and BPAF are recently not chronically hazardous to the survival, reproduction and growth of water fleas in surface waters. On the other hand, we importantly show that currently present BPAF concentrations in surface waters could cause a potential ecological risk to aquatic organisms. In the near future, higher concentrations of BPF and BPAF in surface waters are anticipated and for this reason further testing using test systems with various aquatic species and endpoints are needed to provide additional information about toxic impacts of BPF and BPAF on aquatic biota.

We analyzed the acute toxicity of the 48% glyphosate (GLY)-based Credit®, the 57.71% dicamba (DIC)-based Kamba®, and the 83.5% 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-based Weedar® Full, alone and as mixtures on the fish Cnesterodon decemmaculatus. Mortality revealed the LC50 96h values of 91.73 mg L−1 (range: 86.80–98.00 mg L−1), 1401.57 mg L−1 (range: 1243.78–1527.35) and 678.04 mg L−1 (range: 639.35–718.04 mg L−1) for GLY, DIC and 2,4-D, respectively. Mean values for the toxic unit (TU) that induced 50% mortality (TU50 96h) of fish exposed to equitoxic mixtures were 1.67 (range: 1.65–1.69) for Credit® and Kamba® and 1.28 (range: 1.20–1.36) for Credit® and Weedar® Full suggesting that both mixtures are antagonic. Non-equitoxic combinations demonstrated an antagonistic interaction of herbicides Credit® and Kamba®, whereas a synergistic effect was observed for Credit® and Weedar® Full formulations. GLY and DIC as a mixture demonstrated lower toxicity on non-target species compared to GLY and 2,4-D in combination, at least for C. decemmaculatus, leading to the conclusion that the former combination could be strongly recommended in further agricultural practices.

Dicamba (DIC) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) are two of the most applied auxinic herbicides worldwide, both individually and as part of a mixture. However, the toxicity and interactions achieved when applied as a mixture have not yet been characterised. The equitoxic and non-equitoxic acute toxicity exerted by binary mixtures of Banvel® (57.71% DIC) and DMA® (58.4% 2,4-D) on the Neotropical fish Cnesterodon decemmaculatus were evaluated. Results revealed mean values of 1.02 (range, 0.96–1.08) for the toxic unit (TU) that induced 50% mortality (TU50 96 h) to the fish exposed to binary equitoxic mixtures of the commercial formulations Banvel®–DMA®. These results suggest that the mixture is nearly concentration additive. Furthermore, results demonstrated the occurrence of synergistic interaction when non-equitoxic combinations of Banvel®-or DMA®-formulated herbicides were assayed. In this context and regardless of their concentrations, either Banvel®- or DMA®-induced toxicity were synergised by the presence of the counterpart within mixtures. The present study represents the first evidence of the lethality exerted by mixtures of two auxinic herbicides—namely, DIC and 2,4-D—reported to date for fish and other biotic matrices. When C. decemmaculatus is used as the target organism, a synergistic pattern is observed following exposure to a mixture of both herbicides.

International audience | Pesticides can be toxic to nontarget organisms including the natural enemies of agricultural pests, thus reducing the biodiversity of agroecosystems. The lethal and sublethal effects of four insecticides with different modes of action-pyriproxyfen, teflubenzuron, acetamiprid, and cypermethrin-were evaluated on pupae and adults of Eriopis connexa, an effective predator in horticultural crops. Pupal survival was reduced by pyriproxyfen (26 %) and cypermethrin (41 %). Malformations in adults emerged from treated pupae were observed after acetamiprid (82.7 and 100 % for 100 and 200 mg a.i./l, respectively), pyriproxyfen (48.6 %), and cypermethrin (13.3 %) treatments. A longer mean oviposition time was also observed in adults emerged from pupae treated with cypermethrin. Moreover, the latter insecticide as well as teflubenzuron did not reduce reproductive parameters, whereas females emerged from pyriproxyfen-treated pupae were not be able to lay eggs even when females showed large abdomens. Upon exposure of adults, survival was reduced to approximately 90 % by acetamiprid, but no reduction occurred with pyriproxyfen, teflubenzuron, or cypermethrin though the fecundity at fifth oviposition time of the female survivors was reduced. Pyriproxyfen decreased the hatching at all the oviposition times tested, whereas fertility was reduced in the fourth and fifth ovipositions by teflubenzuron and in the first and third ovipositions by cypermethrin. In conclusion, all four insecticides tested exhibited lethal or sublethal effects, or both, on E. connexa. The neurotoxic insecticides were more harmful than the insect-growth regulators, and pupae were more susceptible than adults. The toxicity of insecticides on the conservation of predators in agroecosystems of the Neotropical Region is discussed.

International audience | The negative impact of conventional pesticides on the environment is already extensively discussed worldwide. Although the use of chemical agents for controlling agricultural pests remains as first-line strategy for pest control, novel biorational active insecticides, such as spirotetramat, have appeared in the pesticide market during recent years in Argentina. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of spirotetramat on two developmental stages of a Neotropical strain of Eretmocerus mundus, with the conventional insecticide cypermethrin as a positive control, and to determine spirotetramat's side effects on parasitoid demographic parameters. Lethal effects of both insecticides on pupae and adults were evaluated by adult emergency and survival, respectively; whereas sublethal effects on both development stages were assessed by adult longevity, reproduction capacity, sex ratio, and longevity of the first progeny. Spirotetramat proved less harmful than cypermethrin at both developmental stages studied, corroborating once more the high toxicity of this pyrethroid to natural enemies. Although spirotetramat did not affect the emergence and reproductive capacity of adults surviving pupal exposure, the longevity of the first progeny was reduced as was adult survival and longevity after exposure to residues. Spirotetramat also reduced all demographic parameters in the population evaluation. This work is the first report of spirotetramat toxicity at the population level and demonstrates the need to assess the total effect of pesticides on natural enemies.