Effects of toxaphene on soil microorganisms in laboratory incubation test
Authors | |
---|---|
Year of publication | 2006 |
Type | Conference abstract |
MU Faculty or unit | |
Citation | |
Description | Toxaphene is a nonspecific organochlorinated insecticide that was widely used in agriculture mostly in 70s. Due to its lipophilic, semivolatile and persistent properties is present in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems all over the world until nowadays in significant residues. Toxaphene is toxic for aquatic organisms, but there is a lack of information about its impact on soil ecosystem. The aim of our study was to determine the effects on soil indigenous microflora. Natural soil was spiked with 1 - 1000 mg/kgdw of toxaphene. Effects on various microbial parameters (microbial biomass Cbio, basal and substrate-induced respiration, anaerobic and potential ammonification and nitrification) were measured after 28 days of incubation under controlled laboratory conditions. No significant inhibition effect was observed even at the highest tested concentration. It seems that lower concentration (1 – 100 mg/kgdw) of toxaphene added to soil stimulated microbial activities (respiration, ammonification). According to our results, the risk that contemporary toxaphene residues in soils may harmfully affect soil microorganisms is negligible. This research was supported by Grant Agency of Czech Republic project 525/04/P159. |
Related projects: |