Masters Theses

Abstract

"The extensive application of synthetic organic pesticides in the United States has created many problems, particularly with respect to fish life. While a number of investigations have been undertaken to determine the toxicity of several pesticides to various species of fish, a great deal of research work is needed before the problem is completely understood.

The individual toxicities of DDT, BHC, 2.,4-D, and Sevin to western golden shiners were determined by means of the bioassay procedure at a t empera t ure Of 16oc. The four chemicals studied were found to be toxic to the test fish with Median Tolerance Limit (TLm) concentrations ranging from 0.088 to more than 1750 mg/1.

Studies were then undertaken to ascertain the combined effects of two pesticides present in the same water. Combinations of DDT, BHC, and Sevin were found to exhibit toxic effects which varied from slightly more than additive to extremely synergistic in action.

Finally, in an effort to determine the fate of the four pesticides in natural water, biodegradability studies were performed, using the long-term biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) determination, to assess the susceptibility of these chemicals to attack by microorganisms. The four chemicals were found to be resistant to microbial breakdown, with only Sevin exhibiting a slight BOD which was less than 7 per cent of the theoretical"--Abstract, p. ii

Advisor(s)

Grigoropoulis, Sotirios G.

Committee Member(s)

Siehr, Donald J.
Roberts, J. Kent, 1922-2014
Spooner, James E.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Civil Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri at Rolla

Publication Date

1964

Pagination

iii, 81 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-80)

Rights

© 1964 Donald Lee Evans, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 1623

Print OCLC #

5959398

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