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Comparative toxicity of ammonium and nitrate compounds to pacific treefrog and african clawed frog tadpoles
Author(s) -
Schuytema Gerald S.,
Nebeker Alan V.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620181019
Subject(s) - african clawed frog , biology , nitrate , toxicity , amphibian , zoology , ecology , chemistry , xenopus , genetics , organic chemistry , gene
The effects of ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and sodium nitrate on survival and growth of Pacific treefrog ( Pseudacris regilla [Baird and Girard]) and African clawed frog ( Xenopus laevis [Daudin]) tadpoles were determined in static—renewal tests. The 10‐d ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate LC50s for P. regilla were 55.2 and 89.7 mg/L NH 4 ‐N, respectively. The 10‐d LC50s for X. laevis for the three ammonium compounds ranged from 45 to 64 μg/L NH 4 ‐ N. The 10‐d sodium nitrate LC50s were 266.2 mg/L NO 3 ‐N for P. regilla and 1,236.2 mg/L NO 3 ‐N for X. laevis. The lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of ammonium compound based on reduced length or weight was 24.6 mg/L NH 4 ‐N for P. regilla and 99.5 mg/L NH 4 ‐N for X. laevis. The lowest sodium nitrate LOAELs based on reduced length or weight were <30.1 mg/L NO 3 ‐N for P. regilla and 126.3 mg/L NO 3 ‐N for X. laevis. Calculated un—ionized NH 3 comprised 0.3 to 1.0% of measured NH 4 ‐N concentrations. Potential harm to amphibians could occur if sensitive life stages were impacted by NH 4 ‐N and NO 3 ‐N in agricultural runoff or drainage for a sufficiently long period.