Effect of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) on Lethality of Tympanotonus Fuscatus after Acute Exposure

Tympanotonus fuscatus acclimated to laboratory conditions for seven days were exposed to different concentrations (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150ml/L) of petrol and a control for 96 hours to examine the acute effect of the petrol on Tympanotonus fuscatus. The response of the Tympanotonus fuscatus in the toxicant showed that mortality was concentration and time dependent. The 48th and 96th hour LC50 were 127.36 and 34.12ml/L respectively. While the 48th and 96th hour LC99 were 396.82 and 126.64ml/L respectively. The probit equations were however significant at 48, 72 and 96th hour. The probit equations were: Y= - 1.10 + 0.1X, Y = -0.91 + 0.014X and Y = - 0.86 + 0.25X respectively. The mean lethal time (MLT50) and their associated confidence limits were: 30mg/L, 77.13 (38.50-92.11), 60 mg/L, 61.64 (30.13-86.41), 90mg/L, 68.09 (29.35-75.58), 120mg/L, 44.71 (22.98-58.30) and 150 mg/L, 43.17 (16.95-56.30). The results obtained indicated that petrol is very toxic to Tympanotonus fuscatus. Therefore adequate measure should be put in place to check avoidable spill in the environment, more especially the aquatic environment which is the natural habitat of many susceptible aquatic species.