Show Insecticide Effects Examined ned nedA A n now new w technique to investigate investigate investigate gate the effect of DDT on aquatic life has haz been developed developed developed devel devel- by a University of Utah scientist and it may provide needed long-needed data on the effects effects effects ef ef- ef- ef of insecticides on man interested WERE NOT only in the lethal effect but the delayed delayed delayed de de- de- de effects as well says Dr Campbell M. M Gilmour director director director di di- rector of the Center for Environmental Environmental Environmental En En- Biology Insecticides Insecticides Insecticides are piling up in humans humans humans hu hu- hu- hu mans he said and some could reach dangerous proportions proportions proportions pro pro- portions at the cellular level Dr Gilmour has developed a miniature aquatic laboratory an important breakthrough in DDT research since one of the major difficulties in measuring environmental toxicants toxicants toxicants cants on life forms has been the inability to simulate a natural environment THE UNIQUE testing device called an electrolytic rometer enables Dr Gilmour to study the physiological effect effect effect ef ef- ef- ef of insecticides on aquatic life It not only maintains a constant supply of oxygen but is a compact system which also regulates such environmental variables as temperature water movement acidity and gaseous atmos atmos- phere The new tool will measure any toxic agent that could have a harmful effect on cellular life according to Dr Gilmour Heres Here's how the aquatic lab works Stoneflies are collected in Utah's mountain streams and used in the research because they are good indicators indicators indicators indi indi- of environmental tion They are placed in flasks containing stream water and magnetic stirrers which simulate simulate simulate simu simu- late water movement THE OXYGEN in the flask flaskis is fixed at a constant level through a connecting glass tube Insecticide located in ina ina ina a capsule on the side of the flask is periodically injected with a syringe The flies usually live ina in ina a normal environment for about 24 hours before insecticide insecticide insecticide is added Tests have already revealed a marked increase in the basic metabolic metabolic metabolic meta meta- bolic rate after DDT is injected in injected injected in- in the breathing rate increases and a muscular reaction reaction reaction re re- re- re action occurs AFTER A period of time they become sluggish and inactive inactive inactive in in- active but the basic metabolism metabolism metabolism rate remains high until they die usually within a a week After death the residual DDT in the insect is analyzed analyzed analyzed ana ana- for enzyme changes and a complete physiological analysis is conducted The experiments are designed to correlate physiological effects with behavioral effects something something something some some- thing which has been difficult difficult difficult cult to do in the past WE KNOW what the lethal dosages are for many insects but it is more important to measure sub-lethal sub effects from prolonged exposure Dr Gilmour Gilmour Gilmour Gil Gil- mour believes He hopes to extrapolate the research data and relate it to man If the results reveal a highly significant significant significant sig sig- sig- sig changing metabolism which can be related to DDT and man it would obviously have a profound impact on the use of the insecticide Dr Gilmour said The U scientist will demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demon demon- strate the aquatic system to members of the country's scientific scientific ent ic community in April during an environmental conference conference conference con con- ference at St. St Marys Mary's College in Winona Minn |