The fungicide cyproconazole (CPZ) inhibits the biosynthesis of ergosterol, an essential sterol component in fungal cell membrane and can also affect non-target organisms by its inhibitory effects on P450 monooxygenases. The predicted environmental concentration of CPZ is up to 49.05 μg/L and 145.89 μg/kg in surface waters and sediments, respectively, and information about CPZ toxicity towards non-target aquatic organisms is still limited. This study aimed to address the lack of ecotoxicological data for CPZ, and thus, an evaluation of the lethal and sub-lethal effects of CPZ was performed using two freshwater invertebrates (the midge Chironomus riparius and the planarian Dugesia tigrina). The estimated CPZ 48 h LC50 (95% CI) was 17.46 mg/L for C. riparius and 47.38 mg/L for D. tigrina. The emergence time (EmT50) of C. riparius was delayed by CPZ exposure from 0.76 mg/L. On the other hand, planarians showed higher tolerance to CPZ exposure. Sub-lethal effects of CPZ on planarians included reductions in locomotion (1.8 mg/L), delayed photoreceptors regeneration (from 0.45 mg/L), and feeding inhibition (5.6 mg/L). Our results confirm the moderate toxicity of CPZ towards aquatic invertebrates but sub-lethal effects observed also suggest potential chronic effects of CPZ with consequences for population dynamics.

Departamento de Agropecuária Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano campus Campos Belos Campos Belos Goiás 73840 000 Brazil

Departamento de Biologia and CESAM Universidade de Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago 3810 193 Aveiro Portugal

Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice Zatisi 728 2 389 25 Vodnany Czech Republic

Programa de Pós Graduação em Produção Vegetal Universidade Federal do Tocantins Campus Universitário de Gurupi Gurupi Tocantins 77402 970 Brazil

See more in PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2016 Jan;170:371-6 PubMed

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2011 Dec;30(12 ):2718-24 PubMed

Zoolog Sci. 2004 Mar;21(3):275-83 PubMed

Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Apr;114 Suppl 1:40-50 PubMed

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2016 Aug;130:19-28 PubMed

Environ Sci Technol. 2017 Nov 7;51(21):12784-12795 PubMed

Mol Plant Pathol. 2006 Jul;7(4):259-68 PubMed

Environ Sci Technol. 2015 Jan 20;49(2):1173-81 PubMed

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2012 Apr;62(3):380-90 PubMed

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2001 Jun;49(2):171-8 PubMed

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008 May;147(4):399-408 PubMed

Zoological Lett. 2015 Feb 01;1:7 PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2015 May;162:94-101 PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2012 Aug 15;118-119:54-61 PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2012 Feb;108:11-7 PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2016 Mar;172:56-66 PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2006 Jun 30;78(3):243-52 PubMed

Science. 2004 Dec 3;306(5702):1672-3 PubMed

Ecotoxicology. 2007 Feb;16(1):221-30 PubMed

Nat Rev Genet. 2002 Mar;3(3):210-9 PubMed

Aquat Toxicol. 2011 Jan 25;101(2):412-22 PubMed

Dev Biol. 2011 Jan 1;349(1):35-45 PubMed

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2007 Mar;1770(3):467-77 PubMed

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2009 Jun;28(6):1218-26 PubMed

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2015;2015:392476 PubMed

Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2004;20:725-57 PubMed

Environ Sci Technol. 2014;48(1):455-63 PubMed

Chemosphere. 2016 Apr;148:61-7 PubMed

Annu Rev Entomol. 1999;44:507-33 PubMed

CSH Protoc. 2008 Oct 01;2008:pdb.emo101 PubMed

Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Mar;111(3):255-61 PubMed

Ecotoxicology. 2009 May;18(4):440-6 PubMed