The toxicity potential of pharmaceuticals found in the Douro River estuary (Portugal)-Experimental assessment using a zebrafish embryo test

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

madureira, tv (Author) Other; cruzeiro, c (Author) Other; rocha, mj (Author) ICBAS; rocha, e (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

Vol. 32

Pages: 212-217

ISSN: 1382-6689

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-N2S

DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2011.05.005

Abstract (EN): Fish embryos are a particularly vulnerable stage of development, so they represent optimal targets for screening toxicological effects of waterborne xenobiotics. Herein, the toxicity potential of two mixtures of pharmaceuticals was evaluated using a zebrafish embryo test. One of the mixtures corresponds to an environmentally realistic scenario and both have carbamazepine, fenofibric acid, propranolol, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. The results evidenced morphological alterations, such as spinal deformities and yolk-sac oedemas. Moreover, heart rates decreased after both mixture exposures, e.g., at 48 hpf, highest mixture versus blank control (47.8 +/- 4.9 and 55.8 +/- 3.7 beats/30 s, respectively). The tail lengths also diminished significantly from 3208 +/- 145 mu m in blank control to 3130 +/- 126 mu m in highest mixture. The toxicological effects were concentration dependent. Mortality, hatching rate and the number of spontaneous movements were not affected. However, the low levels of pharmaceuticals did interfere with the normal development of zebrafish, which indicates risks for wild organisms.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6