Ertugrul Kankaya, Guler Unal
Methyl parathion (MP) is widely used as an agricultural insecticide with organic phosphorus. This study was conducted to determine acute and chronic toxic effects on Chalcalburnus tarichi of MP. Fish 8âÃ?â??Ã?â?¬Ã?â??Ã?â??10 cm in length were exposed to MP using the static test in the acute test and the semi-static test in the chronic test. In the chronic test, 1.47, 2.10, 3.00, 4.28, 6.11 mg L-1 MP concentrations were applied. The 96 hour LC50 value was determined to be 11.44 mg L-1. The chronic test was continued at 17.9 °C for 30 days. The fish were dissected, blood, brain, liver and muscle tissues were removed. The activity of acetylcholinesterase in brain tissue decreased. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were decreased at 2.10, 4.28 and 6.11 mg L-1 concen-trations. Based on hemoglobin and hematocrit values, the lowest observed effect concentration was 2.10 mg L-1 and the no observed effect concentration was 1.47 mg L-1. In conclusion, MP is an acute and chronic toxic substance for C. tarichi according to some biochemical and hematological criteria. In freshwater environments where C. tarichi lives, the MP concentration should not exceed 0.1144 mg L-1. MP should be used as a control in agriculture.