Journal article
POPULATION-LEVEL EFFECTS OF THE NEEM INSECTICIDE, NEEMIX, ON DAPHNIA PULEX
Journal of environmental science and health. Part B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, Vol.36(4), pp.457-465
06/30/2001
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105157
PMID: 11495023
Abstract
Although natural insecticides from the neem tree are generally perceived as less harmful to the environment than synthetic insecticides, new evidence indicates that these products may pose a risk to certain nontarget organisms. In this paper, acute and chronic effects of commercial neem insecticides on the aquatic invertebrate, Daphnia pulex were examined. The acute toxicity of two commercial neem insecticides, Neemix, Azatin and the experimental insecticide, RH-9999 to D. pulex was investigated using traditional 48 hr concentration-mortality estimates. Neemix and Azatin were equitoxic with LC50's of 0.68 and 0.57 ppm; RH-9999 was significantly less toxic with an LC50 of 13 ppm. A 10 d population growth study was conducted for Neemix and a Neemix formulation blank (Neemix devoid of the active ingredients) to determine whether the active ingredients of Neemix and/or components of the formulation were responsible for toxicity. D. pulex populations went to extinction after exposure to a Neemix concentration of 0.45 ppm azadirachtin (equivalent to the acute LC7). Neemix No Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) and Lowest Observable Effect Concentration (LOEC) values for population growth were 0.045 and 0.15 ppm azadirachtin, respectively. The mean number of offspring per surviving female (Ro) declined in a concentration-dependent manner after exposure to Neemix with no offspring being produced after exposure to 0.45 ppm. Neemix NOEC and LOEC values for reproduction were 0.045 and 0.15 ppm, respectively. The formulation blank caused no mortality in the individuals used to start the population growth study but reduced reproduction and population growth accounting for 47% of the toxicity caused by Neemix at a concentration of 0.15 ppm. Thus, the formulation contributes substantially to the toxicity of Neemix but neem components are also toxic to D. pulex. Because the NOEC for population growth and reproduction were higher than the estimated environmental concentration of 0.035 ppm (a measure developed for forest pest mananagement), Neemix should pose little risk to populations of D. pulex.
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Details
- Title
- POPULATION-LEVEL EFFECTS OF THE NEEM INSECTICIDE, NEEMIX, ON DAPHNIA PULEX
- Creators
- John D Stark - Ecotoxicology Program, Dept. of Entomology , Washington State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of environmental science and health. Part B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, Vol.36(4), pp.457-465
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Identifiers
- 99900546919001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article