Multi-and transgenerational synergistic effects of glyphosate and chlorpyrifos at environmentally relevant concentrations in the estuarine rotifer Proales similis

We evaluated the multi-and transgenerational effects of single and combined environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate (GLY) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) in the estuarine rotifer Proales similis. The acute and chronic toxicities of GLY and CPF were determined as individual compounds and as a mixture. Rotifers were exposed to environmental concentrations of GLY (1, 10, 100, and 1000 mu g/L) and CPF (0.1, 1, 5, and 10 mu g/L). The main findings were as follows: (i) the LC50 values were 33.91 mg/L (GLY) and 280 mu g/L (CPF); (ii) the toxic unit (TU50) of the mixture was 0.30, corresponding to 10.17 mg/L GLY and 83 mu g/L CPF; (iii) the multigenerational study indicated that the tested concentrations of GLY and CPF, both single and combined, significantly and consistently decreased the growth rates of P. similis from the F0 to F6 generations; (iv) in most cases, GLY and CPF mixtures induced a strong synergistic effect; and (v) transgenerational effects were detected in the F4 generation, especially GLY and CPF in higher equitoxic proportions. These effects seem to dissipate in F5. Across multigeneration, a slight recovery could indicate population resilience to pollution. Our findings suggest that a mixture of GLY and CPF at environmental concentrations is likely to occur under real field conditions, increasing the risk to marine and estuarine invertebrates such as rotifers.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the multi-and transgenerational effects of the commonly found pesticides glyphosate (GLY) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) in the estuarine rotifer Proales similis. The results showed that the mixture of GLY and CPF had a strong toxic effect and significantly decreased the growth rates of the rotifers. This suggests that the presence of a mixture of GLY and CPF in the environment can pose a risk to marine and estuarine invertebrates.