Comparison of extraction methods for the determination of atrazine accumulation in freshwater molluscs (Physa acuta Drap. and Ancylus fluviatilis Müll, Gastropoda)

Three simple extraction methods were evaluated for the measurement of atrazine in the tissues of two species of freshwater snail. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the highest significant concentrations were measured following extraction by manual trituration and sonication, with methanol as solvent. Accumulation of atrazine was measured for 20 days of toxicant exposure. Physa acuta had 11.74±0.12 mg kg−1 FW and Ancylus fluviatilis had 8.46±0.5 mg kg−1. This protocol allowed efficient atrazine extraction from small samples of animal tissue.