Paper

Inhibition of Esterases of the Freshwater Snails Helisoma duryi and Lymnaea natalensis by Mixtures of Pesticides


Authors:
Norah Basopo; Yogeshkumar S Naik
Abstract
Pesticides indirectly reach aquatic reservoirs via aerial drifts and as runoffs where they affect aquatic organisms. Aquatic reservoirs receive different pesticides from the different fields which usually surround them. However, studies investigating effects of pesticide mixtures on aquatic biota is limited. The effects of six pesticides and their mixtures on esterase activity of two freshwater snail species were investigated. Groups of snails were exposed to individual as well as mixtures of the pesticides for 96 hours before analysing for esterase activity. All pesticides inhibited esterase activity in exposed snails. Binary mixtures of pesticides caused additive or synergistic inhibitions of esterase activities when compared to effects of individual pesticides. The results indicated the importance of chemical interactions on the overall effects of pesticides on aquatic organisms.
Keywords
pesticide; binary mixtures; snails; esterases; inhibition
StartPage
27
EndPage
30
Doi
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