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Warmer climates may increase pesticides' toxicity in fish

June 1st, 2015

In a study of the effects of increasing climate temperatures on the toxicity of 3 contaminants in different fish species, researchers found that all pesticides and industrial contaminants studied—endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, and phenol—became toxic in the upper 5 C range of species' temperature tolerance.

"Within this narrow range of temperatures, other simultaneous changes—such as reduced shading of the water surface as a result of clearing vegetation or increased toxicant exposure—may combine to significantly increase the vulnerability of fish to global warming," said Dr. Ronald Patra, lead author of the Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry study.

More information:
Patra, R. W., Chapman, J. C., Lim, R. P., Gehrke, P. C. and Sunderam, R. M. (2015), Interactions between water temperature and contaminant toxicity to freshwater fish. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. doi: 10.1002/etc.2990

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