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Soil organic matter and amphibian exposure dataset.

Published by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Metadata Last Checked: December 13, 2025 | Last Modified: 2017-07-06
Dermal uptake from soil is known to occur in amphibians, but predicting pesticide availability and bioconcentration across soil types is not well understood. The present study was designed to compare uptake of 5 current-use pesticides (imidacloprid, atrazine, triadimefon, fipronil, and pendimethalin) in American toads (Bufo americanus) from exposure on soils with significant organic matter content differences (14.1% = high organic matter and 3.1% = low organic matter). We placed toads on high- or low-organic matter soil after applying individual current-use pesticides on the soil surface for an 8-h exposure duration. Whole body tissue homogenates and soils were extracted and analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine pesticide tissue and soil concentration, as well as bioconcentration factor in toads. Tissue concentrations were greater on the low-organic matter soil than the high-organic matter soil across all pesticides (average ± standard error; 1.23 ± 0.35 ppm and 0.78 ± 0.23 ppm, respectively), and bioconcentration was significantly higher for toads on the low-organic matter soil (analysis of covariance p = 0.002). Soil organic matter is known to play a significant role in the mobility of pesticides and bioavailability to living organisms. Agricultural soils typically have relatively lower organic matter content and serve as a functional habitat for amphibians. The potential for pesticide accumulation in amphibians moving throughout agricultural landscapes may be greater and should be considered in conservation and policy efforts. This dataset is associated with the following publication: VanMeter, R., D. Glinski, T. Hong, M. Cyterski , M. Henderson , and T. Purucker. Estimating terrestrial amphibian pesticide body burden through dermal exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, USA, 193: 262-268, (2014). NOTE: This dataset has been removed from public access due to revocation. Please refer inquiries regarding this dataset to the listed contact person.

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