Teratogenicity study of three pesticides in bird embryos

Abstract

A 38% dimethoate containing insecticide formulation (BI 58 EC) and a 33% pendimetalin containing herbicide formulation (Stomp 330 EC) and a 960 g/l S-metolachlor containing herbicide formulation (Dual Gold 960 EC) were studied in chicken embryos after single administration of eggs by immersion and injection technique. Treatments were done on the first day of incubation. Applied concentration of pesticides were 0.1% (dimethoate) and 2.05% (S-metolachlor) and 1.25% (pendimetalin) corresponding to that used in plant protection practice. Evaluations were done on day 2-3 and 19 of incubation. Pesticides did not result demonstrable pathological change by the histological processing after the injection and the immersion treatment. The administration of pendimetalin caused the most developmental anomalies – from the early embryogenesis study – after the injection treatment, but following the immersion treatment the numbers of developmental anomalies were equal in the case of all pesticides. The detected anomalies were blood ring, nanosomia and undeveloped vascular system. The injection of pendimetalin and distilled water caused most developmental anomalies – from the painted groups. In case of the immersion treatment the S-metolachlor caused the most of anomalies. The anomalies were curved neck, deformed leg and retarded growth. After the FTIR and FT-Raman determination we concluded that the administration of S-metolachlor resulted changes by immersion and injection technique on molecular level of chicken embryo liver or brain tissues.