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Thoré ESJ, Aulsebrook AE, Brand JA, Almeida RA, Brodin T, Bertram MG. Time is of the essence: The importance of considering biological rhythms in an increasingly polluted world. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002478. [PMID: 38289905 PMCID: PMC10826942 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological rhythms have a crucial role in shaping the biology and ecology of organisms. Light pollution is known to disrupt these rhythms, and evidence is emerging that chemical pollutants can cause similar disruption. Conversely, biological rhythms can influence the effects and toxicity of chemicals. Thus, by drawing insights from the extensive study of biological rhythms in biomedical and light pollution research, we can greatly improve our understanding of chemical pollution. This Essay advocates for the integration of biological rhythmicity into chemical pollution research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how chemical pollutants affect wildlife and ecosystems. Despite historical barriers, recent experimental and technological advancements now facilitate the integration of biological rhythms into ecotoxicology, offering unprecedented, high-resolution data across spatiotemporal scales. Recognizing the importance of biological rhythms will be essential for understanding, predicting, and mitigating the complex ecological repercussions of chemical pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S. J. Thoré
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- TRANSfarm—Science, Engineering, & Technology Group, KU Leuven, Lovenjoel, Belgium
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne E. Aulsebrook
- Department of Ornithology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Jack A. Brand
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rafaela A. Almeida
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Michael G. Bertram
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Tan H, Martin JM, Alton LA, Lesku JA, Wong BBM. Widespread psychoactive pollutant augments daytime restfulness and disrupts diurnal activity rhythms in fish. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 326:138446. [PMID: 36940830 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical pollution is a major driver of global change, with the capacity to alter key behavioural and physiological traits in exposed animals. Antidepressants are among the most commonly detected pharmaceuticals in the environment. Despite well-documented pharmacological effects of antidepressants on sleep in humans and other vertebrates, very little is known about their ecologically relevant impacts as pollutants on non-target wildlife. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of acute 3-day exposure of eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) to field-realistic levels (nominal concentrations: 30 and 300 ng/L) of the widespread psychoactive pollutant, fluoxetine, on diurnal activity patterns and restfulness, as indicators of disruptions to sleep. We show that exposure to fluoxetine disrupted diel activity patterns, which was driven by augmentation of daytime inactivity. Specifically, unexposed control fish were markedly diurnal, swimming farther during the day and exhibiting longer periods and more bouts of inactivity at night. However, in fluoxetine-exposed fish, this natural diel rhythm was eroded, with no differences in activity or restfulness observed between the day and night. As a misalignment in the circadian rhythm has been shown to adversely affect fecundity and lifespan in animals, our findings reveal a potentially serious threat to the survival and reproductive success of pollutant-exposed wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Jake M Martin
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lesley A Alton
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John A Lesku
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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3
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Meade EB, Iwanowicz LR, Neureuther N, LeFevre GH, Kolpin DW, Zhi H, Meppelink SM, Lane RF, Schmoldt A, Mohaimani A, Mueller O, Klaper RD. Transcriptome signatures of wastewater effluent exposure in larval zebrafish vary with seasonal mixture composition in an effluent-dominated stream. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159069. [PMID: 36174698 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent-dominated streams provide critical habitat for aquatic and terrestrial organisms but also continually expose them to complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals that can potentially impair growth, behavior, and reproduction. Currently, few biomarkers are available that relate to pharmaceutical-specific mechanisms of action. In the experiment reported in this paper, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos at two developmental stages were exposed to water samples from three sampling sites (0.1 km upstream of the outfall, at the effluent outfall, and 0.1 km below the outfall) during base-flow conditions from two months (January and May) of a temperate-region effluent-dominated stream containing a complex mixture of pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern. RNA-sequencing identified potential biological impacts and biomarkers of WWTP effluent exposure that extend past traditional markers of endocrine disruption. Transcriptomics revealed changes to a wide range of biological functions and pathways including cardiac, neurological, visual, metabolic, and signaling pathways. These transcriptomic changes varied by developmental stage and displayed sensitivity to variable chemical composition and concentration of effluent, thus indicating a need for stage-specific biomarkers. Some transcripts are known to be associated with genes related to pharmaceuticals that were present in the collected samples. Although traditional biomarkers of endocrine disruption were not enriched in either month, a high estrogenicity signal was detected upstream in May and implicates the presence of unidentified chemical inputs not captured by the targeted chemical analysis. This work reveals associations between bioeffects of exposure, stage of development, and the composition of chemical mixtures in effluent-dominated surface water. The work underscores the importance of measuring effects beyond the endocrine system when assessing the impact of bioactive chemicals in WWTP effluent and identifies a need for non-targeted chemical analysis when bioeffects are not explained by the targeted analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma B Meade
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, United States
| | - Nicklaus Neureuther
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States
| | - Gregory H LeFevre
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, 4105 Seamans Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Dana W Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center, 400 S. Clinton St, Rm 269 Federal Building, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
| | - Hui Zhi
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, 4105 Seamans Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Shannon M Meppelink
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center, 400 S. Clinton St, Rm 269 Federal Building, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
| | - Rachael F Lane
- U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas Water Science Center, 1217 Biltmore Dr, Lawrence, KS 66049, United States
| | - Angela Schmoldt
- Great Lakes Genomics Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States
| | - Aurash Mohaimani
- Great Lakes Genomics Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States
| | - Olaf Mueller
- Great Lakes Genomics Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States
| | - Rebecca D Klaper
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States; Great Lakes Genomics Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204, United States.
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Dong Z, Li X, Chen Y, Zhang N, Wang Z, Liang YQ, Guo Y. Short-term exposure to norethisterone affected swimming behavior and antioxidant enzyme activity of medaka larvae, and led to masculinization in the adult population. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 310:136844. [PMID: 36252902 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Norethisterone (NET), one of the synthetic progestins, is detected with increasing frequency in the water environment and distributed in the ocean, with a potential toxicity risk to marine organisms. However, current studies on the adverse effects of progestins (including NET) in aquatic environments have focused on freshwater organisms, mainly fish. In the present, marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) larvae were exposed to 91.31 ng/L NET for 10 days, and then the swimming behavior, oxidation-antioxidant-related enzyme activities, sex and thyroid hormone levels, and the gene transcription patterns of the larvae were measured. After NET treatment, medaka larvae were raised in artificial seawater until 5 months of age, and the sex ratio was counted. Ten-day exposure to 91.31 ng/L NET inhibited swimming behavior, of marine medaka larvae, which showed that the time in the resting state was significantly prolonged, while the time in the large motor state was significantly reduced; disrupted oxidative-antioxidant system, significantly up-regulated the enzymatic activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px); affected the hormone levels of larvae, lowered 11- keto testosterone (11-KT) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations. RNA-seq results showed that 91.31 ng/L NET exposure for 10 days changed the transcript levels of 275 genes, of which 28 were up-regulated and 247 were down-regulated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly significantly enriched in piwi interacting RNA (piRNA), gonadal development, gametogenesis, and steroidogenesis biological processes, etc. After removing NET exposure and returning to breeding for 140 days, a significant increase in male proportions (69.67%) was observed in sexually mature medaka populations in the NET-treated group. These results show that exposure to 91.31 ng/L NET for 10 days can lead to various adverse effects on marine medaka larvae. These findings shed light on the potential ecological risks of synthetic progestins to marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongdian Dong
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in the South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China.
| | - Xueyou Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in the South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China.
| | - Yuebi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in the South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China.
| | - Ning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in the South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China.
| | - Zhongduo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in the South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China; State Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University School, Changsha, 410081, PR China.
| | - Yan-Qiu Liang
- Faculty of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China.
| | - Yusong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in the South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, PR China.
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Thoré ESJ, Brendonck L, Pinceel T. Natural daily patterns in fish behaviour may confound results of ecotoxicological testing. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116738. [PMID: 33611201 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Low doses of neuroactive chemicals end up in the environment and disrupt behaviour of non-target organisms. Although a whole range of studies have documented pollutant-induced changes in behaviour, natural daily variability in behaviour is rarely taken into account. This is surprising because biological rhythms may affect the outcome of experiments, are adaptive and are expected to be sensitive to neurochemical exposure. Here, we exploit daily behavioural variation in the fish model Nothobranchius furzeri to examine if behavioural effects of chronic exposure (74 days) to an environmentally relevant level (28 ng/L) of the neurochemical fluoxetine depend on the time of day. Fluoxetine exposure induced an increase in anxiety-related behaviour that was slightly more pronounced in the evening compared to the morning. Moreover, open-field locomotor activity was disrupted and daily patterns in activity lifted upon exposure to the compound. These results imply that short-term behavioural variability should be considered both to standardise ecological risk assessment of neuroactive chemicals as well as to better understand the environmental impact of such compounds in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S J Thoré
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Luc Brendonck
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
| | - Tom Pinceel
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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Love AC, Crooks N, Ford AT. The effects of wastewater effluent on multiple behaviours in the amphipod, Gammarus pulex. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 267:115386. [PMID: 33254653 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in lotic habitats is increasing, with the main source of these contaminants being effluent from waste water treatment works (WwTW). There is still much uncertainty about the impacts of these PPCPs at environmentally relevant concentrations and their potential effects on aquatic ecology. Behaviour is a sensitive endpoint which can help evaluate possible population level effects from changes in physiology. This paper evaluates the effects of WwTW effluent on a range of behaviours in the freshwater invertebrate, Gammarus pulex. Effluent taken from the outflow of two WwTW in southern England was used in the study. Behavioural analyses, namely feeding rate, phototaxis, activity, velocity and precopula pairing, were measured in G. pulex following a period of one and three weeks after exposure to a 50% or 100% effluent and a control. Mortality remained very low throughout the 3 week experiment (0-10%, n = 20) and no significant changes in moulting frequency were observed (p > 0.05). No significant effects on feeding or velocity or phototaxis following 3 weeks of effluent exposures were observed (p > 0.05). However, significant reductions were observed in the overall activity over 3 weeks across which appeared to be exacerbated by exposure to effluents. Interestingly, males exposed for 3 weeks to WwTW effluent re-paired with unexposed females significantly faster (4-6x) than control animals. This result was consistent between the effluents taken from the two WwTW. The implications of these behavioural changes are currently unknown but highlight the need for a varied set of tools to study the behavioural changes in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian C Love
- Fisheries Department, Sparsholt College, Westley Lane, Hampshire, SO21 2NF, UK; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, PO4 9LY, UK
| | - Neil Crooks
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4HP, UK
| | - Alex T Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, PO4 9LY, UK.
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Korekar G, Kumar A, Ugale C. Occurrence, fate, persistence and remediation of caffeine: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:34715-34733. [PMID: 31811612 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06998-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) have gained attention in recent years due to their continuous discharge in natural waters. Their persistence in the environment has impacted flora, fauna and human being worldwide. One of the most common PPCPs is caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) which acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system in humans and is found in nature in about 60 plant species, especially in coffee, tea and cacao plants. Here we discuss the evidence with respect to caffeine occurrence, its persistence and remediation in light of increasing knowledge and the impact of caffeine on the environment. Daily intake of caffeine around the world is found to increase due to the frequent introduction of new caffeinated beverages as well as increased consumption of coffee, tea and carbonated soft drinks, which has led to increase in its concentration in water bodies including agricultural soil. The caffeine concentration in different water system, studied by various authors is also described. Diverse effects of the use of caffeine on several organisms including humans are also briefly presented. Therefore, urgent attention for the removal of caffeine and its derivatives is the need of the hour. Various methods described in literature for caffeine degradation/removal is also presented. Another widely used technique in environmental remediation is molecular imprinting (MIP); however, only few MIPs have been demonstrated for caffeine which is also discussed. Regular monitoring can be useful to control toxic effects of caffeine. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish Korekar
- Department of Chemistry, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440010, India
| | - Anupama Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440010, India.
| | - Chetna Ugale
- Department of Botany, Indira Mahavidyalaya Kalamb, Dist. Yavatmal, Maharashtra, 445401, India
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Gauthier PT, Vijayan MM. Municipal wastewater effluent exposure disrupts early development, larval behavior, and stress response in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113757. [PMID: 31896476 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
While wastewater treatment standards have been progressively increasing, emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals can nonetheless pass through treatment and end up in our watersheds. Pharmaceuticals in the parts-per-billion range can impact fish behavior, survival, and recruitment in the wild. However, the ecological risk posed by whole municipal wastewater effluents (MWWE), a complex mixture, is not clear. This knowledge gap is particularly evident for early lifestages (ELS) of fish, and because effluent discharge events are typically short, the effects of short-term MWWE exposures to ELS fish are particularly important from an environmental perspective. Here we tested the effects of rapid 30-min exposures, and short-term 24- and 72-h exposures to MWWE on development, behaviors, and stress response in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, larvae, and juveniles. We obtained 24-h composite samples of tertiary-treated MWWE that contained a mixture of chemicals with affinities for serotonergic, adrenergic, dopaminergic, and ion-channel receptors. Embryos exposed to 5%, 10%, and 50% MWWE experienced developmental delays in somitogenesis and hatching rate, although there was no effect on survival. Embryonic photomotor responses were affected following 30-min and 24-h exposures to 10% and 50% MWWE, and larval visual motor responses were reduced from 24-h exposure to 10% MWWE. Exposure to 10% MWWE dulled the juvenile cortisol and lactate response following an acute air-exposure. Compromised behavioral and stress performances demonstrate the capacity of MWWE to impact phenotypes critical to the survival of fish in the environment. Taken together, we found that zebrafish were sensitive to toxic effects of MWWE at multiple life-stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Gauthier
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mathilakath M Vijayan
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada.
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Wagner ND, Helm PA, Simpson AJ, Simpson MJ. Metabolomic responses to pre-chlorinated and final effluent wastewater with the addition of a sub-lethal persistent contaminant in Daphnia magna. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:9014-9026. [PMID: 30719660 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04318-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Consumer products such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and pharmaceuticals (PCPPs) enter aquatic ecosystems through inefficient removal during wastewater treatment. Often, the sterilization process of wastewater includes the addition of sodium hypochlorite that can react with PCPPs and other organic matter (i.e., dissolve organic matter) to generate disinfection by-products and can cause the final effluent to be more harmful to aquatic organisms. Here, we exposed Daphnia magna to two stages of wastewater, the pre-chlorinated wastewater (PreCl) and the final effluent. In addition, we exposed D. magna, to the final effluent with a concentration gradient of added PFOS, to investigate if this persistent contaminant altered the toxicity of the final effluent. After 48 h of contaminant exposure, we measured the daphnids metabolic responses to the different stages of wastewater treatment, and with the addition of PFOS, utilizing proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We found few significant changes to the metabolic profile of animals exposed to the PreCl wastewater; however, animals exposed to the final effluent displayed increases in many amino acids and decreases in some sugar metabolites. With the addition of PFOS to the final effluent, the metabolic profile shifted from increased amino acids and decreased sugar metabolites and energy molecules especially at the low and high concentrations of PFOS. Overall, our results demonstrate the metabolome is sensitive to changes in the final effluent that are caused by sterilization, and with the addition of a persistent contaminant, the metabolic profile is further altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D Wagner
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Paul A Helm
- Environmental Monitoring & Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario, M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - André J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada.
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Nilsen E, Smalling KL, Ahrens L, Gros M, Miglioranza KSB, Picó Y, Schoenfuss HL. Critical review: Grand challenges in assessing the adverse effects of contaminants of emerging concern on aquatic food webs. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:46-60. [PMID: 30294805 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Much progress has been made in the past few decades in understanding the sources, transport, fate, and biological effects of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in aquatic ecosystems. Despite these advancements, significant obstacles still prevent comprehensive assessments of the environmental risks associated with the presence of CECs. Many of these obstacles center around the extrapolation of effects of single chemicals observed in the laboratory or effects found in individual organisms or species in the field to impacts of multiple stressors on aquatic food webs. In the present review, we identify 5 challenges that must be addressed to promote studies of CECs from singular exposure events to multispecies aquatic food web interactions. There needs to be: 1) more detailed information on the complexity of mixtures of CECs in the aquatic environment, 2) a greater understanding of the sublethal effects of CECs on a wide range of aquatic organisms, 3) an ascertaining of the biological consequences of variable duration CEC exposures within and across generations in aquatic species, 4) a linkage of multiple stressors with CEC exposure in aquatic systems, and 5) a documenting of the trophic consequences of CEC exposure across aquatic food webs. We examine the current literature to show how these challenges can be addressed to fill knowledge gaps. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:46-60. © 2018 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Nilsen
- US Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Meritxell Gros
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona, Spain
| | - Karina S B Miglioranza
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Pollution, Mar del Plata University, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Yolanda Picó
- Environmental and Food Safety Research Group, Center of Research on Desertification (CIDe), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Heiko L Schoenfuss
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
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11
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Althakafy JT, Kulsing C, Grace MR, Marriott PJ. Determination of selected emerging contaminants in freshwater invertebrates using a universal extraction technique and liquid chromatography accurate mass spectrometry. J Sep Sci 2018; 41:3706-3715. [PMID: 30094966 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201800507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A simple sample preparation method based on a modified liquid-phase extraction approach to extract selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products from freshwater organisms is described. Extracted samples were analysed using liquid chromatography with Q-Exactive plus hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry, using 2.6 μm C18 media. A 0.1% v/v acetic acid/acetonitrile mobile phase was applied over a 20 min gradient. Method detection limits in full scan mode were ca. 0.04-2.38 ng of analyte per g of sample. Linearity ranged from 0.9750 to 0.9996 over the calibration range of 0.01-100 μg/L; MS mass accuracy was <2 ppm for most analytes. This method was applied to quantify six pharmaceuticals and personal care products in seven invertebrate samples. For tandem mass spectrometry analysis, selection of precursor ions was performed for each pharmaceutical, with Mass Frontier software illustrating the fragmentation mechanism. Effects of collision energy on intensities of ions was further investigated. The tandem mass spectrometry condition resulting in the highest signal of respective selected product ion was selected to confirm each pharmaceutical, which was initially observed in the full scan mode. Results indicate that pharmaceuticals and personal care products found to be present in water-ways, may be incorporated into organisms that live in the environment of affected water streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalal T Althakafy
- Australian Centre of Research on Separation Science, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chadin Kulsing
- Chromatography and Separation Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Center of Molecular Sensory Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Michael R Grace
- Water Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Philip J Marriott
- Australian Centre of Research on Separation Science, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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12
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Prokkola JM, Nikinmaa M. Circadian rhythms and environmental disturbances – underexplored interactions. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:221/16/jeb179267. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.179267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Biological rhythms control the life of virtually all organisms, impacting numerous aspects ranging from subcellular processes to behaviour. Many studies have shown that changes in abiotic environmental conditions can disturb or entrain circadian (∼24 h) rhythms. These expected changes are so large that they could impose risks to the long-term viability of populations. Climate change is a major global stressor affecting the fitness of animals, partially because it challenges the adaptive associations between endogenous clocks and temperature – consequently, one can posit that a large-scale natural experiment on the plasticity of rhythm–temperature interactions is underway. Further risks are posed by chemical pollution and the depletion of oxygen levels in aquatic environments. Here, we focused our attention on fish, which are at heightened risk of being affected by human influence and are adapted to diverse environments showing predictable changes in light conditions, oxygen saturation and temperature. The examined literature to date suggests an abundance of mechanisms that can lead to interactions between responses to hypoxia, pollutants or pathogens and regulation of endogenous rhythms, but also reveals gaps in our understanding of the plasticity of endogenous rhythms in fish and in how these interactions may be disturbed by human influence and affect natural populations. Here, we summarize research on the molecular mechanisms behind environment–clock interactions as they relate to oxygen variability, temperature and responses to pollutants, and propose ways to address these interactions more conclusively in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni M. Prokkola
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Mikko Nikinmaa
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
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13
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Reduced anxiety is associated with the accumulation of six serotonin reuptake inhibitors in wastewater treatment effluent exposed goldfish Carassius auratus. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17001. [PMID: 29208964 PMCID: PMC5717243 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15989-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been found in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and their recipient watersheds. To assess the potential of WWTP effluents to alter fish behaviour, we caged male goldfish (Carassius auratus) for 21-days at three sites along a contamination gradient downstream from a WWTP which discharges into Cootes Paradise Marsh, on the western tip of Lake Ontario. We also included a fourth caging site as an external reference site within Lake Ontario at the Jordan Harbour Conservation Area. We then measured concentrations of PPCPs and monoamine neurotransmitters in caged goldfish plasma, and conducted behavioural assays measuring activity, startle response, and feeding. We detected fifteen different PPCPs in goldfish plasma including six serotonin reuptake inhibitors (amitriptyline, citalopram, fluoxetine/norfluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, and diphenhydramine). Plasma concentrations of serotonin were significantly greater in plasma of fish caged closer to the WWTP effluent outfall site. The fish caged near and downstream of the WWTP effluent were bolder, more exploratory, and more active overall than fish caged at the reference site. Taken together, our results suggest that fish downstream of WWTPs are accumulating PPCPs at levels sufficient to alter neurotransmitter concentrations and to also impair ecologically-relevant behaviours.
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14
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Silva DCVR, Araújo CVM, López-Doval JC, Neto MB, Silva FT, Paiva TCB, Pompêo MLM. Potential effects of triclosan on spatial displacement and local population decline of the fish Poecilia reticulata using a non-forced system. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 184:329-336. [PMID: 28605703 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Triclosan (TCS) is an emerging contaminant of concern in environmental studies due to its potential adverse effects on fish behavior. Since avoidance has been shown to be a relevant behavioral endpoint, our aims were: (i) to determine if TCS is able to trigger an avoidance response in Poecilia reticulata; (ii) to predict the population immediate decline (PID) caused by TCS exposure, by integrating lethality and avoidance responses; and (iii) to verify the overestimation of risk when mortality is assessed under forced exposure. Fish were exposed to TCS in a forced exposure system, to assess mortality, and to a TCS gradient in a non-forced exposure (NFE) system. Two NFE scenarios were simulated: (#1) a spatially permanent gradient, including low and high concentrations; and (#2) a scenario with high concentrations, simulating a local discharge. The fish avoided TCS concentrations as low as 0.2 μg L-1 (avoidance of 22%). The AC50 obtained from scenario #1 (8.04 μg L-1) was about 15 times more sensitive than that from scenario #2 (118.4 μg L-1). In general, up to the highest concentration tested (2000 μg L-1), the PID was determined by the avoidance. Mortality from the forced exposure was overestimated (48 h-LC50 of 1650 mg L-1), relative to the NFE. The reduced mortality in a non-forced environment does not imply a lower effect, because part of the population is expected to disappear by moving towards favorable environments. TCS is a potential environmental disturber, since at environmentally relevant concentrations (<2 μg L-1) it could cause a decline in the fish population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C V R Silva
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Biotechnology, Engineering School of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Cristiano V M Araújo
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (CSIC), Campus Río S. Pedro, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | | | - Morun B Neto
- Department of Basic and Environmental Sciences, Engineering School of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávio T Silva
- Department of Biotechnology, Engineering School of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Teresa C B Paiva
- Department of Biotechnology, Engineering School of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Melvin SD, Petit MA, Duvignacq MC, Sumpter JP. Towards improved behavioural testing in aquatic toxicology: Acclimation and observation times are important factors when designing behavioural tests with fish. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 180:430-436. [PMID: 28419956 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The quality and reproducibility of science has recently come under scrutiny, with criticisms spanning disciplines. In aquatic toxicology, behavioural tests are currently an area of controversy since inconsistent findings have been highlighted and attributed to poor quality science. The problem likely relates to limitations to our understanding of basic behavioural patterns, which can influence our ability to design statistically robust experiments yielding ecologically relevant data. The present study takes a first step towards understanding baseline behaviours in fish, including how basic choices in experimental design might influence behavioural outcomes and interpretations in aquatic toxicology. Specifically, we explored how fish acclimate to behavioural arenas and how different lengths of observation time impact estimates of basic swimming parameters (i.e., average, maximum and angular velocity). We performed a semi-quantitative literature review to place our findings in the context of the published literature describing behavioural tests with fish. Our results demonstrate that fish fundamentally change their swimming behaviour over time, and that acclimation and observational timeframes may therefore have implications for influencing both the ecological relevance and statistical robustness of behavioural toxicity tests. Our review identified 165 studies describing behavioural responses in fish exposed to various stressors, and revealed that the majority of publications documenting fish behavioural responses report extremely brief acclimation times and observational durations, which helps explain inconsistencies identified across studies. We recommend that researchers applying behavioural tests with fish, and other species, apply a similar framework to better understand baseline behaviours and the implications of design choices for influencing study outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Melvin
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Marie A Petit
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Marion C Duvignacq
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - John P Sumpter
- Institute for Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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16
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Melvin SD. Effect of antidepressants on circadian rhythms in fish: Insights and implications regarding the design of behavioural toxicity tests. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2017; 182:20-30. [PMID: 27842272 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are widely prescribed for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Consequently, these compounds are frequently identified in global waterways where they may pose a hazard to aquatic biota. Evidence demonstrates these compounds to be capable of influencing the behaviour of fish, but the relevance of many reported behavioural endpoints is unclear and the value of some findings has been questioned. Since these compounds act on neuroendocrine-mediated pathways in vertebrates, the present study explored how exposure to two representative SSRIs (fluoxetine and sertraline) and an SNRI (venlafaxine) affect circadian rhythms in fish. Male mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) were exposed to 1, 10 and 100μg/L concentrations of these compounds individually and when present as a full mixture, for a period of one week. Neither fluoxetine nor sertraline had an impact on diurnal activity patterns when fish were exposed to these compounds alone at any concentration, whereas venlafaxine significantly disrupted normal circadian rhythmicity but only at 100μg/L. When fish were exposed to the full mixture, significantly altered diurnal activity patterns were rapidly observed at nominal concentrations of 1 and 100μg/L, but there was no effect at 10μg/L. This sort of non-monotonic dose relationship is not altogether unusual for fish exposed to antidepressants, but it poses a problem when attempting to evaluate potential risks to the aquatic environment. To evaluate the possibility for misinterpretation when collecting behavioural data over short temporal scales, the data for each day of the experiment was analysed separately. The outcomes demonstrate the importance of longer periods of data collection, which may be necessary to capture the full range of natural behavioural variability that exists both amongst and within individual fish. More importantly, these findings may help reveal why discrepancies are commonly being reported in the literature with regards behavioural effects in fish exposed to antidepressants. It is thus suggested that research be aimed at documenting behavioural variability in fish species used in toxicity testing, to establish guidelines for quality control and where possible inform the development of standardised methodologies so that behavioural analysis can be more appropriately applied to the broad field of aquatic toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Melvin
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia,.
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