Embryotoxic effects of nonylphenol and octylphenol in sea urchin Arbacia lixula

Abstract

Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), both of which are biodegradation products of alkylphenols, are widely used in industrial applications and in some domestic products. These chemicals are found widely in surface water and aquatic sediments. We have carried out a comparative embryotoxicity analysis of the effects of increasing concentrations of NP (seven concentrations ranging from 0.937 to 18.74 microg/l) and OP (six concentrations ranging from 5 to 160 microg/l) on embryos of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula. The indicators evaluated were larval malformations, developmental arrest and embryonic/larval mortality. The results revealed that low concentrations of these chemicals (NP, OP) generally caused malformations in the skeletal system. High concentrations (18.74 microg NP/l, 160 microg OP/l) were found to inhibit the growth of embryos in the early life stages by preventing mitosis. We conclude that NP and OP present a major risk to the normal development of A. lixula at the low concentrations that have been recorded in the environment. These chemicals are therefore most likely to represent an ecological hazard at the population level given the cumulative effects of other environmental pollutants.

General stress, detoxification pathways, neurotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluated in Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to human pharmaceuticals

“…For example, it was observed that environmental concentration of several pharmaceuticals can affect the regeneration of Hydra attenuata (cnidarian) (Quinn et al, 2008a(Quinn et al, , 2008b; triclosan at this range can produce genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in Dreissena polymorpha (mussel) (Binelli et al, 2009a). In addition, teratogenic effects have been recorded in sea urchins Arbacia lixula exposed to atenolol (Karaaslan et al, 2012) and in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus exposed to an environmental concentration of tamoxifen (Roepke et al, 2005).…”

Sea urchin embryos as an in vivo model for the assessment of manganese toxicity: developmental and stress response effects

“…Sea urchins are recognized as an excellent model system for eco-embryo-and geno-toxicological studies (Geraci et al 2004;Bonaventura et al 2005;Cakal Arslan and Parlak 2007;Bellas et al 2008b;Nahon et al 2008). Stress proteins play a critical role in a complex defence mechanism, enhancing cell survival under adverse environmental conditions as well as in normal cellular homeostasis (Diller 2006).…”

Impact of composting strategies on the degradation of nonylphenol in sewage sludge

“…2006;Venkatesan and Halden 2013). NP present in the environment is mainly derived from nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) which are nonionic surfactants that are used in a wide range of industrial processes and consumer products (Arslan and Parlak 2007). NPEs is discharged in sewage water and are then converted into NP, which is more persistent and poisonous than NPEs and accumulates in sewage sludge (Capota et al 2004;Fountoulakis et al 2005;Kim et al 2007;Arditsoglou and Voutsa 2008;Zhang et al 2008).…”