Acute toxicity and bioconcentration of lindane and deltamethrin by Rana temporaria tadpoles and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

Mosquitofish and Rana temporaria tadpoles were exposed to 10-20 ug per litre or 100-400-600 ug per litre of lindane, respectively, or 0.5 ug deltamethrin per litre. The toxicity of deltamethrin was about 100-1000 times greater than lindane and the bio-concentration factors varied between LC50 in R. temporaria of 8.63 and 5.88 mg per litre for lindane 13.35 and 19.61 ug per litre for deltamethrin after 24 and 48 h, respectively. LC50 for Gambusia affinis were 0.10-0.20 mg per litre for deltamethrin. The experimental conditions of exposure to the insecticide (static or flow through systems) strongly influenced the concentration in the tested species. (English translation 215 pounds sterling, valid for 1990).