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The Longitudinal Profile of a Stream Contaminated With 2,4-D and its Effects on Non-Target Species

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Abstract

Pesticides can cause harmful effects to aquatic communities, even at concentrations below the threshold limit established as guidelines for the water bodies by environmental agencies. In this research, an input of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (i.e., 2,4-D) was simulated under controlled conditions in a 500-m-long reach of a first-order tropical stream in Southeastern Brazil. Two water samplings at eight stations investigated the stream longitudinal contamination profile. The ecotoxicological effects were analyzed using Eruca sativa L. seed germination assays and the acute and chronic toxicity tests with the neotropical cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. Physicochemical parameters of water quality were evaluated to characterize the study area and quantify 2,4-D concentrations along the stream to assess pesticide retention. The 2,4-D concentration was reduced by approximately 50% downstream in the samplings, indicating that the herbicide was retained along the stream. Moreover, C. silvestrii reproduction in long-term assays decreased approximately 50% in the stations with higher concentrations of 2,4-D than the laboratory control. After contamination, E. sativa L. showed a lower average root growth (1.0 cm), statistically different from the control (2.2 cm). On the other hand, similar growth values were obtained among the background and the most downstream stations. Our study highlighted the relevance of reviewing and updating herbicide guidelines and criteria to prevent possible ecological risks.

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Funding

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp), 2017/50397–5, 2015/18790–3, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), 140599/2020–7, Isabele Baima Ferreira Freitas, 140411/2018–6, Allan Pretti Ogura

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nucleus of Ecotoxicology and Applied Ecology, Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, NEEA/CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Trabalhador Sancarlense Avenue, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil

    Isabele Baima Ferreira Freitas, Allan Pretti Ogura & Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espíndola

  2. Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, BIOTACE/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Davi Gasparini Fernandes Cunha, Aline Silva Cossolin & Murilo de Souza Ferreira

  3. Analytical Chemistry Department, LQA, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bianca Veloso Goulart & Cassiana Carolina Montagner

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  1. Isabele Baima Ferreira Freitas
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  2. Allan Pretti Ogura
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  3. Davi Gasparini Fernandes Cunha
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  4. Aline Silva Cossolin
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  5. Murilo de Souza Ferreira
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  6. Bianca Veloso Goulart
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  7. Cassiana Carolina Montagner
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  8. Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espíndola
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Contributions

Conceptualization: IBFF, APO; Methodology: IBFF, APO, ELGE; Formal analysis: IBFF, APO; Investigation: IBFF, APO, ASC, MSF, BVG; Data curation: IBFF, APO; Writing - Original Draft: IBFF, APO; Writing – Review & Editing: IBFF, APO, DGFC, MSF, ELGE; Supervision: DGFC, CCM, ELGE; Project administration: IBFF, APO; Funding Acquisition: CCM, ELGE

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Correspondence to Isabele Baima Ferreira Freitas.

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Isabele Baima Ferreira Freitas and Allan Pretti Ogura have equally contributed to this work.

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Freitas, I.B.F., Ogura, A.P., Cunha, D.G.F. et al. The Longitudinal Profile of a Stream Contaminated With 2,4-D and its Effects on Non-Target Species. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 131–141 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00903-6

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