Toxicity of S-metolachlor containing formulation and heavy metals to chicken embryos

Environmental pollution of metal modelled by copper sulphate, cadmium sulphate and a 960 g/l S-metolachlor containing herbicide formulation (Dual Gold 960 EC) were studied on chicken embryos after administration as a single compounds or in combination. The test materials were injected into the air-chamber in a volume of 0.1 ml/egg on day 0 of incubation. The concentration of copper, and cadmium sulphate was 0.01%. The applied concentration of Dual Gold 960 EC was 0.375%. Evaluation was done on day 19 of the hatching period. In comparison with the values of the control group, the rate of embryomortality also increased significantly in the groups which were treated by herbicide and heavy metals individually. When the herbicide (Dual Gold 960 EC) was used individually, one quarter of the treated animals died in comparison with the values measured in the control group. In the groups which were treated with cadmium sulphate and Dual Gold 960 EC embryomortality increased significantly in comparison with both the control and individually treated groups. In the groups, which were treated together, the occurrence of development disorders remained as low level as in the case individual treatments. Looking at the types of development disorders, the most frequent problems were the oedema, the shortening of the beak mandible, and the incorrect posture of the feet and the neck. As the collective result of the treatment with cadmium sulphate and Dual Gold 960 EC, the body mass of the treated embryos decreased significantly in comparison with the control and individually treated groups, therefore we can conclude that the combined treatment resulted in increased embryo toxic effect in comparison with the individual embryo damaging effect of the used components.