Effects of 4-tert-Octylphenol on the Incubation of Eggs in Japanese Brown Frogs (Rana japonica)

4-tert-Octylphenol (OP), is an endocrine disruptor or surfactant widely used in herbicides. Its effects (0, 1 and 10 mg/l) on the incubation of eggs were examined using wild Japanese brown frogs (Rana japonica). In 10 mg/l OP, all the eggs were corrupted and no eggs developed. In 1 mg/l OP, 9.8% eggs developed and systemic edema, malformations such as crooked vertebrae and atrophy of the systemic muscles were observed in all the surviving tadpoles. These results suggested that OP use in paddy fields may affect the survival rate of wild frogs and induce malformation.