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Gasque-Belz L, Park B, Siciliano S, Hogan N, Weber L, Campbell P, Peters R, Hanson M, Hecker M. Characterization of Adverse Outcomes from Legacy-Contaminated Groundwater Exposure to Early Life Stages of Fathead Minnow. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 87:34-47. [PMID: 38871949 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-024-01069-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Complex mixtures of chemicals present in groundwater at legacy-contaminated industrial sites can pose significant risks to adjacent surface waters. The combination of short-term molecular and chronic apical effect assessments is a promising approach to characterize the potential hazard of such complex mixtures. The objectives of this study were to: (1) assess the apical effects (survival, growth, development, and liver histopathology) after chronic exposure of early life stages (ELSs) of fathead minnows (FHM; Pimephales promelas) to contaminated groundwater from a legacy-contaminated pesticide manufacturing and packaging plant, and (2) identify possible molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects by comparing results to mechanistic outcomes previously determined by a short-term reduced transcriptome assay (EcoToxChips). This study revealed a significant increase in mortality and prevalence of spinal curvatures, as well as a significant reduction in the length of FHMs exposed to the groundwater mixtures in a concentration-dependent manner. There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of edema in FHMs, though not significantly different from controls. Additionally, no histopathological effects were observed in the liver of FHMs exposed to the groundwater mixtures. Short-term molecular outcomes determined in a parallel study were found to be informative of chronic apical outcomes, including cardiotoxicity, spinal deformities, and liver toxicity. Overall, the results observed in this study demonstrated that short-term transcriptomics analyses could support the hazard assessment of complex contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gasque-Belz
- Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Bradley Park
- Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Steven Siciliano
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Natacha Hogan
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lynn Weber
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Rachel Peters
- Federated Co-Operatives Limited, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Mark Hanson
- Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
- School of the Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
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2
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Green D, Bluhm K, Brinkmann M, Raes K, Lane T, Liber K, Janz DM, Hecker M. Cross-species apical microinjected selenomethionine toxicity in embryo-larval fishes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169338. [PMID: 38104801 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169338] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that becomes toxic when exposures minimally exceed those that are physiologically required. Studies on Se contaminated aquatic environments have identified that embryo-larval fishes are at particular risk of Se toxicity, primarily due to maternal Se transfer to developing eggs during oogenesis. This study emulated these exposures in embryo-larval fathead minnow (FHM), rainbow trout (RBT), white sucker (WSu), and white sturgeon (WSt) using embryonic selenomethionine (SeMet) microinjections. Adverse Se-outcomes observed across these species included spinal and edematous deformities, total individuals deformed, and reduced survival. Spinal deformity was the most sensitive sublethal endpoint and developed at the lowest concentrations in WSt (10 % effects concentration (EC10) = 12.42 μg (total) Se/g dry weight (d.w.)) followed by WSu (EC10 = 14.49 μg Se/g d.w.) and FHM (EC10 = 18.10 μg Se/g d.w.). High mortality was observed in RBT, but SeMet influences were confounded by the species' innate sensitivity to the microinjections themselves. 5 % hazardous concentrations derived across exposure type data subsets were ∼49 % higher when derived from within-species maternal transfer exclusive data as opposed to all, or within-species microinjection exclusive, data. These results support the current exclusion of SeMet microinjections during regulatory guideline derivation and their inclusion when studying mechanistic Se toxicity across phylogenetically distant fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Green
- Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Kerstin Bluhm
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Katherine Raes
- Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Taylor Lane
- Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Karsten Liber
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - David M Janz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada.
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3
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Raza Y, Mertens E, Zink L, Lu Z, Doering JA, Wiseman S. Embryonic Exposure to the Benzotriazole Ultraviolet Stabilizer 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methylphenol Decreases Fertility of Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:385-397. [PMID: 37975561 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are emerging contaminants of concern. They are added to a variety of products, including building materials, personal care products, paints, and plastics, to prevent degradation caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. Despite widespread occurrence in aquatic environments, little is known regarding the effects of BUVSs on aquatic organisms. The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of exposure to 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methylphenol (UV-P) on the reproductive success of zebrafish (Danio rerio) following embryonic exposure. Embryos were exposed, by use of microinjection, to UV-P at <1.5 (control), 2.77, and 24.25 ng/g egg, and reared until sexual maturity, when reproductive performance was assessed, following which molecular and biochemical endpoints were analyzed. Exposure to UV-P did not have a significant effect on fecundity. However, there was a significant effect on fertilization success. Using UV-P-exposed males and females, fertility was decreased by 8.75% in the low treatment group and by 15.02% in the high treatment group relative to control. In a reproduction assay with UV-P-exposed males and control females, fertility was decreased by 11.47% in the high treatment group relative to the control. Embryonic exposure to UV-P might have perturbed male sex steroid synthesis as indicated by small changes in blood plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone, and small statistically nonsignificant decreases in mRNA abundances of cyp19a1a, cyp11c1, and hsd17b3. In addition, decreased transcript abundances of genes involved in spermatogenesis, such as nanos2 and dazl, were observed. Decreases in later stages of sperm development were observed, suggesting that embryonic exposure to UV-P impaired spematogenesis, resulting in decreased sperm quantity. The present study is the first to demonstrate latent effects of BUVSs, specifically on fish reproduction. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:385-397. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamin Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Emily Mertens
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lauren Zink
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zhe Lu
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec, Canada
| | - Jon A Doering
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of the Coast & Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Steve Wiseman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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4
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Johnson H, Dubiel J, Collins CH, Eriksson ANM, Lu Z, Doering JA, Wiseman S. Assessing the Toxicity of Benzotriazole Ultraviolet Stabilizers to Fishes: Insights into Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Effects. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:110-120. [PMID: 38112502 PMCID: PMC10785820 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are chemicals used to mitigate UV-induced damage to manufactured goods. Their presence in aquatic environments and biota raises concerns, as certain BUVSs activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which is linked to adverse effects in fish. However, potencies of BUVSs as AhR agonists and species sensitivities to AhR activation are poorly understood. This study evaluated the toxicity of three BUVSs using embryotoxicity assays. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to BUVSs by microinjection suffered dose-dependent increases in mortality, with LD50 values of 4772, 11 608, and 56 292 ng/g-egg for UV-P, UV-9, and UV-090, respectively. The potencies and species sensitivities to AhR2 activation by BUVSs were assessed using a luciferase reporter gene assay with COS-7 cells transfected with the AhR2 of zebrafish and eight other fishes. The rank order of potency for activation of the AhR2 from all nine species was UV-P > UV-9 > UV-090. However, AhR2s among species differed in sensitivities to activation by up to 100-fold. An approximate reversed rank order of species sensitivity was observed compared to the rank order of sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo[p]dioxin, the prototypical AhR agonist. Despite this, a pre-existing quantitative adverse outcome pathway linking AhR activation to embryo lethality could predict embryotoxicities of BUVSs in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter
M. Johnson
- Department
of Biological Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Justin Dubiel
- Department
of Biological Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Cameron H. Collins
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, College of the Coast and Environmental, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Andreas N. M. Eriksson
- Department
of Biological Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Zhe Lu
- Institut
des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec
à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Jon A. Doering
- Department
of Biological Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, College of the Coast and Environmental, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Steve Wiseman
- Department
of Biological Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
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5
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Dubiel J, Green D, Raza Y, Johnson HM, Xia Z, Tomy GT, Hontela A, Doering JA, Wiseman S. Alkylation of Benz[a]anthracene Affects Toxicity to Early-Life Stage Zebrafish and In Vitro Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor 2 Transactivation in a Position-Dependent Manner. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:1993-2002. [PMID: 35694968 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are structurally diverse organic chemicals that can have adverse effects on the health of fishes through activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AhR2). They are ubiquitous in the environment, but alkyl PAHs are more abundant in some environmental matrices. However, relatively little is known regarding the effects of alkylation on the toxicity of PAHs to fishes in vivo and how this relates to potency for activation of AhR2 in vitro. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to determine the toxicity of benz[a]anthracene and three alkylated homologs representing various alkylation positions to early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and to assess the potency of each for activation of the zebrafish AhR2 in a standardized in vitro AhR transactivation assay. Exposure of embryos to each of the PAHs caused a dose-dependent increase in mortality and malformations characteristic of AhR2 activation. Each alkyl homolog had in vivo toxicities and in vitro AhR2 activation potencies different from those of the parent PAH in a position-dependent manner. However, there was no statistically significant linear relationship between responses measured in these assays. The results suggest a need for further investigation into the effect of alkylation on the toxicity of PAHs to fishes and greater consideration of the contribution of alkylated homologs in ecological risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1993-2002. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Dubiel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Derek Green
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Yamin Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hunter M Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zhe Xia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gregg T Tomy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Alice Hontela
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jon A Doering
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Steve Wiseman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Water Institute for Sustainable Environments, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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6
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Alcaraz AJG, Potěšil D, Mikulášek K, Green D, Park B, Burbridge C, Bluhm K, Soufan O, Lane T, Pipal M, Brinkmann M, Xia J, Zdráhal Z, Schneider D, Crump D, Basu N, Hogan N, Hecker M. Development of a Comprehensive Toxicity Pathway Model for 17α-Ethinylestradiol in Early Life Stage Fathead Minnows ( Pimephales promelas). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:5024-5036. [PMID: 33755441 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing pressure to develop alternative ecotoxicological risk assessment approaches that do not rely on expensive, time-consuming, and ethically questionable live animal testing. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive early life stage toxicity pathway model for the exposure of fish to estrogenic chemicals that is rooted in mechanistic toxicology. Embryo-larval fathead minnows (FHM; Pimephales promelas) were exposed to graded concentrations of 17α-ethinylestradiol (water control, 0.01% DMSO, 4, 20, and 100 ng/L) for 32 days. Fish were assessed for transcriptomic and proteomic responses at 4 days post-hatch (dph), and for histological and apical end points at 28 dph. Molecular analyses revealed core responses that were indicative of observed apical outcomes, including biological processes resulting in overproduction of vitellogenin and impairment of visual development. Histological observations indicated accumulation of proteinaceous fluid in liver and kidney tissues, energy depletion, and delayed or suppressed gonad development. Additionally, fish in the 100 ng/L treatment group were smaller than controls. Integration of omics data improved the interpretation of perturbations in early life stage FHM, providing evidence of conservation of toxicity pathways across levels of biological organization. Overall, the mechanism-based embryo-larval FHM model showed promise as a replacement for standard adult live animal tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alper James G Alcaraz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - David Potěšil
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Mikulášek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Derek Green
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Bradley Park
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Connor Burbridge
- Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W9, Canada
| | - Kerstin Bluhm
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Othman Soufan
- Computer Science Department, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Taylor Lane
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
- Department of Environment and Geography, York University, York YO10 5NG, United Kingdom
| | - Marek Pipal
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
- School of the Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C8, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Jianguo Xia
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - David Schneider
- Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W9, Canada
- School of the Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Doug Crump
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Natacha Hogan
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
- School of the Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C8, Canada
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