Abstract:

Ziram, a broad spectrum fungicide, is a dimethyl-dithiocarbamate universally used for pest control in many agricultural crops. Although ziram is being found in freshwater ecosystems, limited information is found about the toxicity of ziram on aquatic life. Therefore, in the present study, the acute toxicity of ziram on Daphnia magna, a freshwater invertebrate, was evaluated. For this purpose, neonates were exposed to four different concentrations of ziram for 48 hours. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities and the changes in the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzymes were measured. The results showed that exposure to ziram significantly increased MDA levels, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and the expression of genes related to antioxidant system in D. magna. In conclusion, it was determined that short term exposure to ziram lead to acute toxicity by causing oxidative stress in D. magna.

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