Life Cycle Stages and Length of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Exposed to DDT

Abstract

Long-term toxicity growth tests were conducted with DDT using zebrafish (Danio rerio). The fish were exposed to concentrations of 0.05 μg/l, 0.5 μg/l, 5 μg/l and 50 μg/l DDT under flow-through conditions. The effect of the compound on the ecologically important parameters hatching rate, duration of the developmental stages and growth were the focus of interest. When exposed to 50 μg/l DDT, the hatching rate was 2 to 3 times lower than in embryos exposed to 0.05 μg/l DDT. This study demonstrates that the rearing zebrafish in the pesticide causes a reduction in body length and the durations of the life cycle stages (LCS) of the offspring are extended. These effects are increased when the fish are exposed to higher DDT concentrations.