Temik contamination in a surface water system and its potential effect on a daphnid species in Florida

Abstract

Preliminary sampling of the Caloosahatchee River, which serves as a source of drinking water for the city of Ft Myers, Florida, showed that aldicarb, aldicarb sulphoxide and aldicarb sulphone had contaminated the river. These toxicants are associated with the pesticide Temik. Concentrations of total residue were as high as 17·9 μg litre⁻¹ at one site, but contaminants were never detected in final (treated) drinking water.

Concentrations of only 10 μg litre⁻¹ of aldicarb sulphoxide have significant impacts on the life history characteristics of a common Florida daphnid, Daphnia laevis. We suggest that Temik use in Florida, and perhaps elsewhere, may prove detrimental to the biota of surface water systems.