Toxicity of Atrazine to Marine Invertebrates Under Flow-Through Conditions\u2014Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and Mysid Shrimp (Americamysis bahia)

R A Brain,J C Anderson,M L Hanson

doi:10.1007/s11270-021-05075-6

Abstract

The triazine herbicide atrazine is routinely detected in freshwaters, and has also been detected in coastal waters in Europe and the US. Relatively few atrazine studies have been conducted with estuarine/marine invertebrates. This study sought to contribute additional invertebrate atrazine toxicity data using model species, Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and Mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia). Specifically, we investigated (1) acute effects on survival and growth of Eastern oyster, and (2) acute and chronic effects on survival, reproduction, and growth of the Mysid shrimp. No oyster mortality was observed following 96-h exposure to up to 17 mg a.i./L, but shell growth was reduced by 0.55% to 16% in 1.0, 9.2, and 17 mg a.i./L treatments, resulting in a 96-h EC50 of > 17 mg a.i./L. In the 96-h Mysid test, mortality rates of 5 to 70% were observed in 1.7, 2.4, 3.6, and 6.4 mg a.i./L treatments, and the 96-h LC50 was 5.4 mg a.i./L. Sub-lethal effects were observed among surviving Mysids exposed to ≥ 2.4 mg a.i./L. After 28 days of exposure to up to 1.1 mg a.i./L, there were no effects on survival or reproduction. The LOEC was 0.50 mg a.i./L, based on reduced body size, and the NOEC was 0.26 mg a.i./L. Overall, the results indicate that atrazine is slightly toxic towards Eastern oyster and moderately toxic to the Mysid shrimp under acute exposure conditions. These data will help to fill a gap in the literature and inform risk assessment of potential effects of atrazine towards estuarine/marine communities.

Highlights

Atrazine is a triazine herbicide used primarily for selective control of broadleaf weeds in corn and sorghum crops (Moore et al, 2017)
Analysis of five of the six quality control (QC) samples resulted in measured concentrations which were consistent with the predetermined recovery range and ranged from 92.0 to 106% of the nominal fortified levels (1.00, 8.00, and 30.0 mg a.i./L)
Analyses of the QC samples resulted in measured concentrations which were generally consistent with the predetermined recovery range and averaged 91% of the nominal fortified levels (1.00 to 10.0 mg a.i./L)

Summary

Introduction

Atrazine is a triazine herbicide used primarily for selective control of broadleaf weeds in corn and sorghum crops (Moore et al, 2017). As a result of its wide adoption (USGS, 2020) and potential to enter waterways via runoff (Moore et al, 2017), it is routinely detected in North American surface waters (e.g., ECCC, 2011; Government of Canada, 2016; US EPA, 2019a). While much of its use occurs in the Midwestern US, major watersheds (e.g., Mississippi River) can accumulate atrazine and other herbicides and transport them to coastal waters (Clark et al, 1999; DeLorenzo et al, 2006). There are pockets of relatively intensive atrazine use (typically in corn) in several states (e.g., North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas; USGS, 2020) that could result in movement of atrazine more directly into estuarine and/or marine environments.

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Conclusion