Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.282
Title (Primary) Identification of pesticide exposure-induced metabolic changes in mosquito larvae
Author Russo, R.; Haange, S.-B. ORCID logo ; Rolle-Kampczyk, U.; von Bergen, M.; Becker, J.M.; Liess, M.
Source Titel Science of the Total Environment
Year 2018
Department OEKOTOX; MOLSYB
Volume 643
Page From 1533
Page To 1541
Language englisch
Keywords Metabolic change; Low-concentration exposure; Freshwater macroinvertebrates; Neonicotinoids
Abstract

The European regulatory framework for pesticides generally applies an assessment factor of up to 100 below the acute median lethal concentration (LC50) in laboratory tests to predict the regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs). However, long-term detrimental effects of pesticides in the environment occur far below the RACs.

Here, we explored the metabolic changes induced by exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin in larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens. We exposed the test organisms to the insecticide for 24 h and then measured the levels of 184 metabolites immediately and 48 h after the pulse contamination.

We established a link between the exposure to clothianidin and changes in the level of three specific classes of metabolites involved in energy metabolism, namely, glycerophospholipids, acylcarnitines and biogenic amines. Remarkably, exposure to concentrations considered to be safe according to the regulatory framework (2–4 orders of magnitude lower than the acute LC50), induced longer-term effects than exposure to the highest concentration. These results suggest that a specific detoxification mechanism was only triggered by the highest concentration.

We conclude that even very low insecticide concentrations increase the energy demands of exposed organisms, which potentially translates into a decline in sensitive species in the field.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=20943
Russo, R., Haange, S.-B., Rolle-Kampczyk, U., von Bergen, M., Becker, J.M., Liess, M. (2018):
Identification of pesticide exposure-induced metabolic changes in mosquito larvae
Sci. Total Environ. 643 , 1533 - 1541 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.282