The research continues. Today we split into three groups and deep-dived into specific topics surrounding our research question. My sister and I focused on the effects of permethrin on the overall ecosystem of sub-Saharan Africa while other members of my group focused on how the chemical affects humans, and how it affects different regions in sub-Saharan Africa. The most interesting thing I found today was the effects permethrin has on aquatic organisms, specifically tadpoles. I already knew from previous research that permethrin was dangerously toxic to fish, so it was interesting to learn about its affect on another aquatic animal. A study that focused on three common insecticide formulas found that 2 out of the 3 formulas reduced the survival of tadpoles while the third formula appeared to have no affect. Despite the fact that the third formula did not negatively impact the tadpoles, it was the least used formula. In fact, the most used formula was the one that hurt the tadpoles the most.
