Effect of Fluoride on the Reproductive Output of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster is popularly used to study the effect of toxicity of chemicals. Exposure to fluoride may affect the reproductive potential of animals including humans. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the effect of sub-lethal concentration of Sodium Fluoride (NaF) on the reproductive output of Drosophila melanogaster. It was found that 1.0 parts per million (ppm) of NaF was lethal for the adult flies and there was significant fall in the number of 3rd instar larvae, pupae and ecloded flies in different sublethal concentrations of NaF (0.2 ppm, 0.4 ppm, 0.6 ppm, 0.8 ppm). The study concluded that NaF (commonly used in pesticides), can cause developmental alterations in non-target insects like Drosophila melanogaster, thereby suggesting its role in developmental toxicity.