Acute Toxicity of 353-nonylphenol and Its Metabolites for Zebrafish Embryos

Overview

Journal Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

Publisher Springer

Specialties Environmental Health
Toxicology

Date 2009 Jan 10

PMID 19132427

Citations 6

Authors

Ulrike Kammann

Michael Vobach

Werner Wosniok

Andreas Schaffer

Andreas Telscher

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background, Aim And Scope: Nonylphenol (NP) can be detected in the aquatic environment all over the world. It is applied as a technical mixture of isomers of which 353-NP is the most relevant both in terms of abundance (about 20% of total mass) and endocrine potential. 353-NP is metabolised in sewage sludge. The aims of the present study were to determine and to compare the acute toxicity of t-NP, 353-NP and its metabolites as well as to discuss if the toxicity of 353-NP changes during degradation.

Materials And Methods: 353-NP and two of its metabolites were synthesised. The zebrafish embryo test was performed according to standard protocols. Several lethal and non-lethal endpoints during embryonal development were reported. NOEL, LOEL and EC50 were calculated.

Results: All tested compounds caused lethal as well as non-lethal malformations during embryo development. 353-NP showed a higher toxicity (EC50 for lethal endpoints 6.7 mg/L) compared to its metabolites 4-(3.5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-2-nitrophenol (EC50 13.3 mg/L) and 4-(3,5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-2-bromophenol (EC50 27.1 mg/L).

Discussion: In surface water, concentrations of NP are far below the NOEC identified by the zebrafish embryo test. However, in soils and sewage sludge, concentrations may reach or even exceed these concentrations. Therefore, sludge-treated sites close to surface waters should be analysed for NP and its metabolites in order to detect an unduly high contamination due to runoff events.

Conclusions: The results of the present study point out that the toxicity of 353-NP probably declines during metabolisation in water, sediment and soil, but does not vanish since the major metabolites exhibit a clear toxic potential for zebrafish embryos.

Recommendations And Perspectives: Metabolites of environmental pollutants should be included in the ecotoxicological test strategy for a proper risk assessment.

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Mhadhbi L, Fumega J, Boumaiza M, Beiras R Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2011; 19(3):708-17.

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