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toxicity to some aquatic organisms (see Table 58). Nothing is presently known about its 
chronic toxicity following several years’ exposure to low concentrations, particularly 
with respect to marine aquatic organisms. 
Table 58: Survey of acute / chronic toxicity of endosulfan to aquatic organisms. 
Aquatic organism 
Species 
Value/period [d] 
Cone. [pg/L] 
Algae 
Chlorella vulgaris 
NOEC/5 
10.0 a 
Crustacean 
Mysidopsis bahía 
LC50/acute 
0.04 b 
Fish 
Oncorhynchus mykiss 
NOEC/28 
0 
0 
0 
1—* 
a 
Data from: a (Datasheet on Endosulfan), b (OSPAR Background document on 
Endosulfan) 
The following studies provide an overview of the distribution of endosulfan and/or the 
long-time water quality trends in Europe and the US: (Serdar and Miller, 2002), 
(Muschal and Cooper), (WHO, 1994), (Johnson et al., 1999), (Background Document 
on Endosulfan). Endosulfan has been found in Arctic air and in the Bering Sea, i.e. it is 
a currently used pesticide which is widely distributed in the atmosphere and sea of the 
polar environment. Typical concentrations are shown in Table 59. Some samples from 
regions where endosulfan consumption is high (e. g. South Africa, US) were found to 
have extremely high endosulfan concentrations, with LC50 values for fish and 
crustaceans clearly exceeded. No information is presently available on endosulfan 
concentrations in the marine environment of northern Europe.