The toxic effects of Zineb (fungicide) on fertilization and early embryonic stages of sedentary polychaete Hydroides elegans (Haswell, 1883)
S. Vijayaragavan
Deputy Director, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Regional Centre, Madurai - 625018 (India) Correspondance Author: Dr.S. Vijayaragavan Deputy Director, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Régional Centre, Madurai - 625018 (India) Email: s.v.ragavann@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
he toxicity test has been performed to examine the effects of pesticide (fungicide) on fertilization and early development of marine Polychaete Hydroides elegans(H. elegans). Zineb is a dithiocarbamate agricultural fungicide used to control blights, rusts, and leaf spot. It is a polymeric zinc complex, commonly applied as a powder to foliage. While exhibiting low acute toxicity, it poses hazards to skin, eyes, and respiratory systems. Its primary toxicological risk involves thyroid impairment and potential reproductive toxicity. The fungicide leads to pollution of the ground water, aquatic environments and also marine environment. It directly enters the food chains of the organisms and it affects the marine ecosystems. The pesticides alter the regular functions of the marine organisms as well as physiological structure. The toxic effect of Zineb on fertilization, early developmental stages of H. elegans was examined and it was found that the rate of successful development of embryonic development decreased when the concentration of Zineb increased in sea water. The results presents here, strongly suggest that the mechanism of action of the fungicide probably acts on sever as intracellular targets based on EC50 values of the present study; It indicated that Zineb was toxic to the early developmental stages of H. elegans. The results indicate that the early development stages of H. elegans are highly sensitive to Zineb (fungicide). The sedentary polychaete, Hydroides elegans can be routinely used as a test organism for eco-toxicity bioassays experiments at tropical and sub-tropical regions.