Acute toxicity of the herbicide roundup® for piauçu (“Leporinus macrocephalus”).

Abstract

Roundup® (glifosate) is a widely used herbicide such for agricultural areas as for not agricultural in the whole world. Ambient exposition can occur because of the deposition due to drift and accidental launching. The present study aimed to evaluate acute toxicity of the herbicide Roundup® to juveniles piauçu (Leporinus macrocephalus), and identify the CL50 for the species and evaluate hepatic changes in exposed fish to doses below of the CL50 of Roundup® for 96 hours. Tested concentrations were: 6.67; 13.33; 20.00; 26.67; and 33.33 ppm of the Roundup®. The CL50 of the Roundup for piauçu was 15.8 ppm of the commercial product, being considered little toxic according to IBAMA classification. However, even with concentrations below of the CL50, the herbicide was able to cause damages to the liver of the exposed fish.