STUDIES ON JOINT TOXIC EFFECTS OF A GLYPHOSATE HERBICIDE (FOZÁT 480) AND A HEAVY METAL (CADMIUM) ON CHICKEN EMBRYOS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the individual and combined toxic effects of
the herbicide Fozát 480 (glyphosate [isopropylamine salt] 480g/l) and cadmium
sulphate (CdSO4) on the development of chicken embryos. On the first day of
incubation, chicken eggs were injected with 0.1 ml of cadmium sulphate solution
(0.1%) and/or with 0.1 ml of Fozát 480 (2.0%). The chicken embryos were
examined on the 19th day by measuring the rate of embryo mortality and body
weight and by identification of different types of developmental anomalies and
macroscopic malformations. The body weight data were statistically evaluated by
one-way ANOVA and Dunnett tests, while the embryonic mortality and the
developmental anomalies were analysed by Fisher test. Our teratogenicity study
revealed, that the combined administration of cadmium sulphate and glyphosate
(isopropylamine salt) containing herbicide formulation caused a significant
reduction in the body weight of embryos and increased the rate of embryonic
mortality. The joint toxic effect of cadmium sulphate and Fozát 480 is an additive
effect compared to the individual toxicity of the test materials.