1
|
Zicarelli G, Faggio C, Blahova J, Riesova B, Hesova R, Doubkova V, Svobodova Z, Lakdawala P. Toxicity of water-soluble polymers polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl alcohol for fish and frog embryos. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173154. [PMID: 38735322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Personal Care Products (PCPs) have been one of the most studied chemicals in the last twenty years since they were identified as pseudo-persistent pollutants by the European Union in the early 2000s. The accumulation of PCPs in the aquatic environment and their effects on non-target species make it necessary to find new, less harmful, substances. Polyethylene glycol (PEGs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVAs) are two polymers that have increased their presence in the composition of PCPs in recent years, but little is known about the effect of their accumulation in the environment on non-target species. Through embryotoxicity tests on two common models of aquatic organisms (Danio rerio and Xenopus laevis), this work aims to increase the knowledge of PEGs and PVAs' effects on non-target species. Animals were exposed to the pollutant for 96 h. The main embryotoxicity endpoint (mortality, hatching, malformations, heartbeat rate) was recorded every 24 h. The most significant results were hatching delay in Danio rerio exposed to both chemicals, in malformations (oedema, body malformations, changes in pigmentation and deformations of spine and tail) in D. rerio and X. laevis and significant change in the heartbeat rate (decrease or increase in the rate) in both animals for all chemicals tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Zicarelli
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Caterina Faggio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; Department of Eco-sustainable Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Jana Blahova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbora Riesova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Renata Hesova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Veronika Doubkova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdenka Svobodova
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Pavla Lakdawala
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nigro L, Magni S, Ortenzi MA, Gazzotti S, Della Torre C, Signorini SG, Sbarberi R, Binelli A. Unveiling the multilevel impact of four water-soluble polymers on Daphnia magna: From proteome to behaviour (a case study). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134000. [PMID: 38508107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquitous presence of water-soluble polymers (WSPs) in freshwater environments raises concerns regarding potential threats to aquatic organisms. This study investigated, for the first time, the effects of widely used WSPs -polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG)- using a multi-level approach in the freshwater biological model Daphnia magna. This integrated assessment employed a suite of biomarkers, evaluation of swimming behaviour, and proteomic analysis to investigate the effects of three environmentally relevant concentrations (0.001, 0.5, and 1 mg/L) of the tested WSPs from molecular to organismal levels, assessing both acute and chronic effects. Our findings reveal that exposure to different WSPs induces specific responses at each biological level, with PEG being the only WSP inducing lethal effects at 0.5 mg/L. At the physiological level, although all WSPs impacted both swimming performance and heart rate of D. magna specimens, PAA exhibited the greatest effects on the measured behavioural parameters. Furthermore, proteomic analyses demonstrated altered protein profiles following exposure to all WSPs, with PVA emerging as the most effective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lara Nigro
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Stefano Magni
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy.
| | - Marco Aldo Ortenzi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Stefano Gazzotti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Camilla Della Torre
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Sbarberi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Andrea Binelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sainju D, Lucas R, Le Gresley A. Evaluation of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for characterisation and quantitation of water-soluble polymers in river water. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120650. [PMID: 37742403 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Water-soluble polymers (WSPs) are commonly used in industrial, commercial, agricultural and pharmaceutical products and their molecular weights and concentrations vary considerably. Methods commonly used in the analysis of WSPs are often for pure products or formulations with only a few other high MW constituents. These methods, like size exclusion chromatography (SEC) or Gel Permeation Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (MS) can be frustrated by the impact of the necessary separation steps prior to identification and the limitations of MS when identifying and quantifying polymers. To that end, the employment of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) method to identify, characterize and quantify WSPs in the real-world is reported for the first time. Samples were taken from fourteen UK inland river sites, concentrated via air-drying, freeze-drying or vacuum-drying and analyzed using 1D 1H NMR and 2D 1H Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR analysis. Seven of the river sites showed the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with a range of molecular weights, evidencing the application of these techniques in analysis of WSPs. Soil percolation models evidenced the proof of principle that these techniques can also be used for the detection of polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyacrylic acid (PAA). This work should better enable the evaluation of the biological impact of WSPs on aquatic organisms in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Drishna Sainju
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, HSSCE Faculty, Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Robert Lucas
- Consumer Healthcare, Haleon PLC, Weybridge, Surrey, UK
| | - Adam Le Gresley
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, HSSCE Faculty, Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gomes AR, Guimarães ATB, Matos LPD, Silva AM, Rodrigues ASDL, de Oliveira Ferreira R, Islam ARMT, Rahman MM, Ragavendran C, Kamaraj C, Silva FG, Malafaia G. Potential ecotoxicity of substrate-enriched zinc oxide nanoparticles to Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162382. [PMID: 36828072 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although the ecotoxicological effects of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have already been reported in different taxa, little is known about their impacts on amphibians. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the potential effects of exposure of Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles to substrates enriched with ZnO NPs (and with its ionic counterpart, Zn+2, ZnCl2 - both at 100 mg/kg) previously used in the cultivation of Panicum maximum (Guinea grass). We showed that although exposure for 21 days did not impact the survival, growth, and development of tadpoles, we noted an increase in the frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities in the "ZnCl2" and "ZnONP" groups, which was associated with suppression of antioxidant activity in the animals (inferred by SOD and CAT activity and DPPH free radical scavenging capacity). In the tadpoles of the "ZnONP" group, we also noticed a reduction in creatinine and bilirubin levels, alpha-amylase activity, and an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. But the treatments did not alter the activity of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase and total protein and carbohydrate levels. On the other hand, we report a cholinesterase and hypotriglyceridemic effect in the "ZnCl2" and "ZnONP" groups. Zn bioaccumulation in animals, from ZnO NPs, from Zn+2 released from them, or both, has been associated with causing these changes. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) and the values of the "Integrated Biomarker Response" index revealed that the exposure of animals to substrates enriched with ZnO NPs caused more pronounced effects than those attributed to its ionic counterpart. Therefore, our study reinforces the need to consider the environmental risks of using these nanomaterials for agricultural purposes for amphibians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Rodrigues Gomes
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Agronomy, Goiano Federal Institute - Campus Rio Verde, GO, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Paiva de Matos
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | - Abner Marcelino Silva
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | | | - Raíssa de Oliveira Ferreira
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | | | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Laboratory of Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Chinnasamy Ragavendran
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India
| | - Chinnaperumal Kamaraj
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM), Directorate of Research and Virtual Education, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Fabiano Guimarães Silva
- Post-Graduation Program in Agronomy, Goiano Federal Institute - Campus Rio Verde, GO, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Brazilian Academy of Young Scientists (ABJC), Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Araújo APDC, Luz TMD, Ahmed MAI, Ali MM, Rahman MM, Nataraj B, de Melo E Silva D, Barceló D, Malafaia G. Toxicity assessment of polyethylene microplastics in combination with a mix of emerging pollutants on Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 127:465-482. [PMID: 36522078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Studies in recent years have shown that aquatic pollution by microplastics (MPs) can be considered to pose additional stress to amphibian populations. However, our knowledge of how MPs affect amphibians is very rudimentary, and even more limited is our understanding of their effects in combination with other emerging pollutants. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible toxicity of polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) (alone or in combination with a mix of pollutants) on the health of Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles. After 30 days of exposure, multiple biomarkers were measured, including morphological, biometric, and developmental indices, behavioral parameters, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and cholinesterase responses, as well as the uptake and accumulation of PE-MPs in animals. Based on the results, there was no significant change in any of the parameters measured in tadpoles exposed to treatments, but induced stress was observed in tadpoles exposed to PE-MPs combined with the mixture of pollutants, reflecting significant changes in physiological and biochemical responses. Through principal component analysis (PCA) and integrated biomarker response (IBR) assessment, effects induced by pollutants in each test group were distinguished, confirming that the exposure of P. cuvieri tadpoles to the PE-MPs in combination with a mix of emerging pollutants induces an enhanced stress response, although the uptake and accumulation of PE-MPs in these animals was reduced. Thus, our study provides new insight into the danger to amphibians of MPs coexisting with other pollutants in aquatic environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thiarlen Marinho da Luz
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO 75790-000, Brazil
| | | | - Mir Mohammad Ali
- Department of Aquaculture; Faculty of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Marine Science; Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Bojan Nataraj
- Unit of Toxicology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, India
| | - Daniela de Melo E Silva
- Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO 74690-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO 74690-970, Brazil
| | - Damià Barceló
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), H2O Building, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, Girona 17003, Spain; Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), JordiGirona 1826, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO 75790-000, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO 75790-000, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG 38400-902, Brazil; Post-Graduation Programa in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO 74605-050, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yoshinaga N, Tateishi A, Kobayashi Y, Kubo T, Miyakawa H, Satoh K, Numata K. Effect of Oligomers Derived from Biodegradable Polyesters on Eco- and Neurotoxicity. Biomacromolecules 2023. [PMID: 37085155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable polymers are eco-friendly materials and have attracted attention for use in a sustainable society because they are not accumulated in the environment. Although the characteristics of biodegradable polymers have been assessed well, the effects of their degradation products have not. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated the chemical toxicities of biodegradable polyester, polycaprolactone (PCL), and synthetic oligocaprolactones (OCLs) with different degrees of polymerization. While the PCL did not show any adverse effects on various organisms, high levels of shorter OCLs and the monomer (1 μg/mL for freshwater microorganisms and 1 mg/mL for marine algae and mammalian cells) damaged the tested organisms, including freshwater microorganisms, marine algae, and mammalian cells, which indicated the toxicities of the degradation products under unnaturally high concentrations. These results highlight the need for a further understanding of the effects of the degradation products resulting from biodegradable polyesters to ensure a genuinely sustainable society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Yoshinaga
- Biomacromolecule Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
| | - Ayaka Tateishi
- Biomacromolecule Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Kobayashi
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kubo
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyakawa
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
| | - Kotaro Satoh
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecule Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Department of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Groh KJ, Arp HPH, MacLeod M, Wang Z. Assessing and managing environmental hazards of polymers: historical development, science advances and policy options. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:10-25. [PMID: 36511246 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00386d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Polymers are the main constituents of many materials and products in our modern world. However, their environmental safety is not assessed with the same level of detail as done for non-polymeric chemical substances. Moreover, the fundamentals of contemporary regulatory approaches for polymers were developed in the early 1990s, with little change occurring since then. Currently, the European Commission is working on a proposal to initiate registration of polymers under the European Union's (EU) chemicals legislation REACH. This provides a unique opportunity for regulation to catch up on recent scientific advances. To inform this process, we here critically appraise the suggested regulatory approaches to the environmental assessment and management of polymers against the latest scientific findings regarding their environmental fate, exposure, and effects, and identify the remaining critical knowledge gaps. While we use the EU draft proposal as an example, our findings are broadly applicable to other polymer legislations worldwide, due to the similarity of polymer assessment criteria being used. We emphasize four major aspects that require more attention in the regulation of polymers: (i) increased transparency about chemical identities, physical characteristics and grouping approaches for in-use polymers; (ii) improved understanding of the environmental fate of polymers and materials composed of polymers across size and density categories and exposure profiles; (iii) comprehensive assessment of the environmental hazards of polymers, considering the effects of degradation and weathering and taking into account the actual uptake, long-term toxicity, and geophysical impacts; and (iv) consideration of the production volume and use/release patterns in determining regulatory data and testing requirements. Transitioning toward a toxic-free and sustainable circular economy will likely require additional policy instruments that will reduce the overall complexity and diversity of in-use polymers and polymeric materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia J Groh
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, NO-0806 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Matthew MacLeod
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Freitas ÍN, Dourado AV, da Silva Matos SG, de Souza SS, da Luz TM, Rodrigues ASDL, Guimarães ATB, Mubarak NM, Rahman MM, Arias AH, Malafaia G. Short-term exposure of the mayfly larvae (Cloeon dipterum, Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) to SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides and other emerging pollutants: A new threat for the aquatic environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157813. [PMID: 35931160 PMCID: PMC9345649 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The input of SARS-CoV-2 or its fragments into freshwater ecosystems (via domestic or hospital sewage) has raised concerns about its possible impacts on aquatic organisms. Thus, using mayfly larvae [Cloeon dipterum (L.), Ephemeroptera: Baetidae] as a model system, we aimed to evaluate the possible effects of the combined short exposure of SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides (named PSPD-2001, PSPD-2002, and PSPD-2003 - at 266.2 ng/L) with multiple emerging pollutants at ambient concentrations. After six days of exposure, we observed higher mortality of larvae exposed to SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides (alone or in combination with the pollutant mix) and a lower-body condition index than those unexposed larvae. In the "PSPD" and "Mix+PSPD" groups, the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and the total thiol levels were also lower than in the "control" group. In addition, we evidenced the induction of nitrosative stress (inferred by increased nitrite production) and reduced acetylcholinesterase activity by SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides. On the other hand, malondialdehyde levels in larvae exposed to treatments were significantly lower than in unexposed larvae. The values of the integrated biomarker response index and the principal component analysis (PCA) results confirmed the similarity between the responses of animals exposed to SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides (alone and in combination with the pollutant mix). Although viral peptides did not intensify the effects of the pollutant mix, our study sheds light on the potential ecotoxicological risk associated with the spread of the new coronavirus in aquatic environments. Therefore, we recommend exploring this topic in other organisms and experimental contexts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ítalo Nascimento Freitas
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | - Amanda Vieira Dourado
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | | | - Sindoval Silva de Souza
- Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Thiarlen Marinho da Luz
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | | | | | - Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan BE1410, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Laboratory of Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Andrés Hugo Arias
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)-CONICET, Florida 8000, Complejo CCT CONICET Bahía Blanca, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan BE1410, Brunei Darussalam; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pontes JRS, Lopes I, Ribeiro R, Araújo CVM. Humane acute testing with tadpoles for risk assessment of chemicals: Avoidance instead of lethality. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 303:135197. [PMID: 35691390 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In spite of the sensitivity of amphibians to contamination, data from fish have been commonly used to predict the effects of chemicals on aquatic life stages. However, recent studies have highlighted that toxicity data derived from fish species may not protect all the aquatic life stages of amphibians. For pesticide toxicity assessment (PTA), EFSA has highlighted that more information on lethal toxicity for the aquatic life stages of amphibians is still needed to reduce uncertainties. The current review aims to propose a test with amphibians based on spatial avoidance, as a more humane alternative method to the lethality tests for chemicals. A review of lethal toxicity tests carried out with amphibians in the period between 2018 and 2021 is presented, then we discuss the suitability of using fish toxicity data as a surrogate to predict the effects on more sensitive amphibian groups. The possible differences in sensitivity to chemicals may justify the need to develop further tests with amphibian embryos and larvae in order to reduce uncertainties. A new test is proposed focused on the avoidance behaviour of organisms fleeing from contamination to replace lethal tests. As avoidance indicates the threshold at which organisms will flee from contamination, a reduction in the population density, or its disappearance, at the local scale due to emigration is expected, with ecological consequences analogous to mortality. Avoidance tests provide an ethical advantage over lethal tests as they respect the concepts of the 3 Rs (mainly Refinement), reducing the suffering of the organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Rodolfo S Pontes
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rui Ribeiro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cristiano V M Araújo
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN-CSIC), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|