Acute Toxicity Evaluation of Expired Pesticides on Earthworms Eisenia fetida

Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) were exposed to commercial formulations of certain expired pesticides (based on the date of manufacture) in an acute earthworm toxicity test as per OECD guideline 207. Four types of expired pesticides along with respective unexpired formulations viz., Dichlorvos 76% EC (organophosphate), Lambda-cyhalothrin 5% EC (Pyrethroid), Hexaconazole 5% EC (azole based fungicide) and Pretilachlor 50% EC (acetic acid based herbicide) were selected for the study. The adult earthworms were exposed to artificial soil with expired and unexpired pesticide formulations ranging from 10 – 1000 mg/kg soil based on the literature data. Earthworms were assessed for mortality and behavioral effects after 7 and 14 days of exposure and earthworm body weights were recorded at day 0 and day 14. The results of the study revealed date expired pesticide formulations belongs to the class pyrethroid and azole based fungicide were toxic in when compared with respective unexpired formulation.