Acute toxicity assessment of chloroxylenol on the whirligig beetle, <i>Orectogyrus alluaudi</i> (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)

Abstract

This study assessed the acute toxicological effects of different concentrations of chloroxylenol (PCMX), an active ingredient in most liquid  cleaning products, on the whirligig beetle Orectogyrus alluaudi Regimbart, 1889. This was done with the aim of determining the potential  lethal effects of the chemical on this aquatic beetles. Whirligig beetles sourced from an unpolluted stream were subjected to  varying concentrations of PCMX in controlled laboratory conditions. Five concentrations ranging from 2 to 32 mg/l were utilized alongside  control groups, with exposure durations spanning 24 to 96 hours. Observations revealed alterations in the beetles' behaviour  and swimming patterns preceding mortality. Calculated median lethal concentration (LC50) values at 24 to 96 hours demonstrated a  concentration-dependent increase in mortality rates, with LC50 values ranging from 21.587 to 7.819 mg/L. This study underscores the  detrimental impact of PCMX on aquatic beetle populations, providing valuable insights into the environmental risks associated with  common cleaning agents.