Acute toxicity of synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin to some freshwater organisms.

Ninety-six hours static bioassays were made in the laboratory to determine acute toxicity of cypermethrin to five non-target freshwater organisms belonging to different taxa and niche. Susceptibility of the organisms to cypermethrin was in the order: the crustacean Diaptomus forbesi > the aquatic insect Ranatra filiformis > the freshwater carp Cyprinus carpio > the tadpole larva of the toad Bufo melanostictus > the oligochaet worm Branchiura sowerbyi. Ninety-six hours LC50 values of aqueous cypermethrin ranged from 0.03 microg/L for the crustacean to 9.0 microg/L for the tadpole larva. The value was very high (71.12 microg/L) for the oligochaet worm. LC50 values changed with hours of exposure till 72 h after which cypermethrin became inactive in both aqueous and acetone solution. Acetone solution of cypermethrin was more toxic to B. sowerbyi, C. carpio and the tadpole larva. There was no significant difference in susceptibility of any other test organism between aqueous and acetone solution of cypermethrin.