Evaluation of the fungicide manganese-zinc ethylene bis(dithiocarbamate) (mancozeb) for sublethal and acute toxicity to Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta)

This article describes the outcome of laboratory experiments to determine t he acute and sublethal effects of the fungicide mancozeb on the earthworm E isenia fetida. Apart from a standardized acute test, young worms, 25 days o ld, were exposed to mancozeb mixed into a urine-free rattle manure substrat e. Five groups of 10 worms each were used per concentration level (0, 8, 44 mg/kg substrate). The following life-history parameters were measured: gro wth in consecutive weeks over a 6-week period, survival rate, maturation ti me, cocoon production, hatching success of cocoons, number of hatchlings pe r cocoon, and incubation time of cocoons over another 4 weeks. The results indicated that mancozeb had no significant detrimental effect on either gro wth or reproduction of E. fetida at the recommended dose (8 mg/kg) or at an estimated environmental concentration (44 mg/kg). The findings do not supp ort the hypothesis that avoidance response to mancozeb could serve as an in dication of toxicity. (C) 2001 Academic Press.