Toxicity of γ‐hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane) to <i>Gammarus pulex</i>

Abstract

SUMMARY. The acute toxicity of the pesticide γ‐hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane) to Gammarus pulex was determined by a standard procedure and by a modification of the conventional toxicity test protocol. Animals were exposed to a range of concentrations for various periods of time from 1 to 1000 min and transferred to clean water. Animals continued to die for up to 3 weeks after the initial exposure to the poison. Toxicity curves were obtained expressing the relationships between concentration of poison and median survival time (LT50) and between concentration of poison and median lethal exposure time, i.e., the duration of exposure required to cause the eventual death of half the animals. For a given concentration of pesticide, the duration of exposure which will cause 50% mortality is far less than is indicated by a conventional toxicity test in which animals are continuously exposed to the poison. It is suggested that the results of conventional acute lethal toxicity tests may have limited predictive value even when applied to field situations involving the discharge of lethal levels of pollutants to receiving waters.