Effects of acute exposures to mecoprop, mecoprop-p and their biodegradation product (2-MCP) on the larval stages of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

Studies have shown that pesticides are sometimes detected at rather high levels in seawater and it has been suggested that these chemical compounds could act as additional stress factor for oysters cultured in coastal environments. The effects of pesticides on marine molluscs could be particularly harmful in the early stages which correspond to critical life stages. This study aimed to assess the effects of mecoprop, mecoprop-p and their degradation compound 2-methyl-4-chlorophenol on two larval stages of Crassostrea gigas. Embryotoxic effects were assessed on veliger larvae after 36 h exposures, and both percentages of normal larvae and types of abnormalities were taken into account. The effects of the three substances were evaluated on 21-day-old pediveliger larvae by calculating metamorphosis rates after 24 h exposures. The results of the embryotoxicity assay indicated that 2-methyl-4-chlorophenol was more toxic (EC50: 10.81 mg L−1) than its parent compounds (EC50 mecoprop: 42.55 mg L−1; EC50 mecoprop-p: 78.85 mg L−1). Mecoprop in particular injured shell formation with an increase of shell abnormalities following herbicide concentrations. The active substances were not toxic to metamorphosis processes, but 2-MCP was revealed to be more toxic to the success of metamorphosis (EC50: 7.20 mg L−1) than to embryo-larval development. However, the toxic concentrations were several orders of magnitude higher than environmental concentrations.