Effect of river water, sediment and time on the toxicity and bioavailability of molinate to the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri (Microtox)

The toxicity and bioavailability of molinate to Vibrio fischeri (Microtox ®) were determined in both laboratory and river water in the absence and presence of sediment after 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96-h exposure. The bioavailability of molinate, expressed as 5 min EC50s (bioluminescence) and their fiducial limits calculated using initial measured concentrations, to V. fischeri in laboratory water in the absence and presence of sediment ranged from 1.8 (1.7–2.1) to 3.6 (3.5–3.7) mg L −1 and 1.3 (1.2–1.4) to 4.2 (3.5–4.5) mg L −1, respectively. The corresponding values in river water and river water plus sediment were 1.7 (1.6–1.8) to 3.8 (3.6–4.1) and 1.3 (1.3–1.4) to 4.6 (4.2–4.9) mg L −1, respectively. River water did not significantly ( P > 0.05 ) reduce the bioavailability of molinate to V. fischeri compared to that of laboratory water. However, the presence of sediment significantly ( P < 0.05 ) reduced the bioavailability of molinate to V. fischeri in both waters. The exposure time also significantly ( P < 0.05 ) reduced the bioavailability of molinate to V. fischeri in both waters in the presence and absence of sediment. The type of water did not significantly ( P > 0.05 ) affect the loss of molinate during the 96-h exposure period. However, the presence of sediment significantly ( P < 0.01 ) increased the loss of molinate from the test solutions, probably by binding to the sediment particles. Exposure period and concentration levels significantly ( P < 0.05 ) affected the loss of the herbicides over the 96 h.