Toxicity of a mancozeb containing formulation and Cd-sulphate to chicken embryos after administration as single compounds or in combination.

Environmental pollution of metal modelled by cadmium-sulphate and a 80% mancozeb containing fungicide formulation (Dithane M-45) 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 cadmium-sulphate was 0.01%. The applied concentration of Dithane M-45 fungicide was 0.2%. Evaluation was done on day 19 of the hatching period. The individual administration of cadmium-sulphate and the 80% mancozeb containing fungicide formulation did not cause a significant reduction in body weight as compared to the control data. Embryonic mortality increased at all individual treated groups and reached almost a 35% rate. After the individual administration of pesticide, the number of chicken embryos with developmental anomalies did not differ markedly from the control. After the combined administration of cadmium-sulphate and the 80% mancozeb containing fungicide formulation (Dithane M-45) on day 0 of the hatching period embryonic mortality markedly increased. 88% of the treated embryos were dead. Results from the combined administration of cadmium-sulphate and an 80% mancozeb containing fungicide formulation (Dithane M-45) caused higher embryomortality with respect to individual toxicity test of cadmium-sulphate and fungicide in our study.