Abstract

It is the purpose to investigate the physiological toxity and mutagenicity by heavy metal compounds such as potasium dichromate, sodium arsenite and selenium dioxide on the development of Drosophila melanogaster. These chemical compounds were highly toxic at every developmental stage of Drosophila. The relative values of fecundity, viability and developmental time obtained on food media containing 5 different levels of potasium dichromate (500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 ppm), also 5 different levels of sodium arsenite and selenium dioxide (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 ppm). Resulting in the relative values of fecundity and viability generally decreased, on the contrary developmental time generally reduced as the concentration of chemicals in the food increased. A significant reduction in the fecundity was observed between 800 and 900 ppm (p<0. 01) on the potasium dichromate media, between 15 and 20 ppm (p<0. 05) on the sodium arsenite media, between 20 and 25 ppm (p<0. 02) on the selenium dioxide media. A significant reduction in the viability was observed between 700 and 800 ppm (p<0. 01) on the potasium dioxide media, between 25 and 30 ppm (p<0. 01) on the sodium arsenite media, between 20 and 25 ppm (p<0. 01) on the selenium dioxide media. The developmental time was significantly reduced between 800 and 900 ppm (p<0. 001) on the potasium dioxide media, between 15 and 20 ppm (p<0. 001) on the sodium arsenite media, and between 25 and 30 ppm (p<0. 01) on the selenium dioxide media.

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