Acute toxicity of cypermethrin to the non target organism Hyalella curvispina

The acute toxicity of cypermethrin to the amphipod Hyalella curvispina was evaluated by means of a toxicity test under laboratory conditions. Cypermethrin is one of the most widely used insecticides in Argentina. H. curvispina is a widely distributed and commonly abundant component of the invertebrate assemblages in shallow waters of southern South America. The experiments were repeated three times. The mean 48-h LC50 value for H. curvispina was estimated at 0.066 μg/l. H. curvispina represents a good model for exotoxicological risk assessment.

► Pesticide consumption sharply increased during the last decades in South America.
► The pyrethroid cypermethrin represents one of the most widely used insecticides.
► The freshwater amphipod Hyalella curvispina is widespread in southern South America.
► The 48-hLC50 of cypermethrin to the non-target Hyalella curvispina was determined.