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Effects of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate and dibutyl phthalate on the collembolan Folsomia fimetaria
Author(s) -
Jensen John,
van Langevelde Judith,
Pritzl Gunnar,
Krogh Paul Henning
Publication year - 2001
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.5620200520
Subject(s) - dibutyl phthalate , phthalate , juvenile , toxicity , microcosm , ec50 , toxicology , zoology , biology , moulting , ecotoxicology , chemistry , environmental chemistry , botany , ecology , larva , biochemistry , in vitro , organic chemistry
Lethal and sublethal effects of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on adult individuals of the collembolan Folsomia fimetaria were investigated in the laboratory by the use of small microcosms. Effects of DEHP and DBP were also tested on newly hatched collembolans in a multidish system. The endpoints were juvenile mortality, growth, and development. When exposed to DEHP, adults and juveniles were unaffected at all test concentrations, that is, up to 5,000 mg/kg. However, DBP caused increased adult mortality at 250 mg/kg and juvenile mortality at 25 mg/kg. For DBP, adult reproduction was a more sensitive endpoint than was survival, with an EC10 and EC50 of 14 and 68 mg/kg, respectively. Juvenile molting frequency seems to be a sensitive parameter, because number of cuticles produced by young springtails was reduced at 1 mg/kg. Toxicity was reduced when soil spiked with DBP was stored at 20°C for a period of up to 28 d before adding the animals. Reduction in toxicity of DBP may be due a combination of degradation, evaporation, and adsorption of DBP to soil material. This was confirmed by chemical analyses, which showed a rapid initial disappearance followed by a much slower disappearance. Our results lead to the overall conclusion that significant adverse effects of phthalates on collembolans are not likely to occur as a result of normal sewage sludge application.