Lugworm (<i>Arenicola cristata</i>) larvae in toxicity tests: Survival and development when exposed to organotins

Abstract

Abstract A test is described for the exposure of the lugworm Arenicola cristata to toxicants. Embryos of A. cristata were exposed for 96 and 168 h to bis(triphenyltin) oxide (TPTO), triphenyltin chloride (TPTC), bis(tri-n-butyltin) oxide (TBTO) and tributyltin acetate (TBTA). The toxic effects were death and abnormal development of larvae. Concentrations that killed all animals were 4 μg L−1 (96 h) and 2 μg L−1 (168 h) TPTO; 10 μg L−1 (96 h) and 5 μg L−1 (168 h) TPTC; 4μg L−1 (96 h) TBTO; and 10 μg L−1 (96 h) and 5 μg L−1 (168 h) TBTA. Abnormal morphology was caused by 0.75 μg L−1 TPTO, 1 μg L−1 TPTC and 5 μg L−1 TBTA. Several developmental stages, from embryo to swimming larva, were exposed to TPTO. The most sensitive stages were early trochophore and early settled stage. The range of concentrations between 100% survival and 100% mortality was narrow in all tests. The exposure system is simple and detects teratogenicity.