Assessment of the toxic effects of the organophosphate insecticide Malathion (Cythion) on non-target earthworm growth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17839330Keywords:
Earthworm, Cythion, Concentration, Soil, Growth, ToxicityAbstract
Earthworms are recognized as important bioindicators of chemical toxicity within soil ecosystems. This is significant because they serve as common prey for many terrestrial vertebrates, including birds and small mammals, and therefore play a key role in the biomagnification of various soil pollutants. The present study examined the concentration-dependent effects of the pesticide Cythion on earthworm growth. The experiment was conducted over a 60-day period using different concentrations of Cythion, starting from 3 mg/kg soil and increasing to 9 mg/kg. These concentrations produced non-significant effects on earthworm growth throughout the 60-day toxication period when compared with the control. A further increase from 9 mg/kg to 12 mg/kg soil likewise showed no significant difference in growth relative to the control during the same period. The results suggest that growth can be considered a sensitive parameter for evaluating the toxicity of Cythion in earthworms. Cythion demonstrated an impact on earthworm growth, resulting in a decrease in earthworm size.
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