Evaluation of brominated diphenyl ether‐99 toxicity with Raphidocelis subcapitata and Daphnia magna

Abstract

Brominated flame retardants belong to a new class of environmental contaminants. To obtain new information regarding the effects of 2,2',4,4',5-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-99), one of the most frequently reported congeners in freshwater biota, the inhibition of algal growth of Raphidocelis subcapitara (also known as Selenastrum capricornutum) and acute toxicity to Daphnia magna were examined. The experimental design also involved a comparison with the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Aroclor 1254. The uptake of BDE-99 by R. subcapitata and the transfer to D. magna (i.e., a higher level of aquatic biota in the food chain) was also assessed to verify the bioaccumulation phenomenon. After 24 h, BDE-99 appeared to be less toxic than Aroclor 1254 to D. magna, but the two compounds showed a similar toxicity at 48 h. In contrast to Aroclor 1254, BDE-99 was nontoxic to R. subcapitata at up to 100 microM, the highest tested concentration. However, the dose-dependent decrease in survival and impairment of reproduction of D. magna fed with BDE-99-treated algal culture demonstrate uptake by R. subcapitata. Because of the high persistence and bioconcentration, polybrominated diphenyl ethers as well as PCBs might be of environmental concern for years.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and the response of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase to PBDE-47 and -209 from the freshwater bivalve Anodonta woodiana

“…Relative observations of aquatic organism response faced PBDEs were also reported in other studies [40]. The LC50 for 48 h acute toxicity tests in Daphnia magna indicated that PBDE-28 is the least toxic in terms of lethality, followed by PBDE-100, PPBDE-47, and then PBDE-99 [40,41]. Meanwhile, 2.5 mg/L of PPBDE-209 tested had no impact on daphnid survival after 48 h [41].…”

“…The LC50 for 48 h acute toxicity tests in Daphnia magna indicated that PBDE-28 is the least toxic in terms of lethality, followed by PBDE-100, PPBDE-47, and then PBDE-99 [40,41]. Meanwhile, 2.5 mg/L of PPBDE-209 tested had no impact on daphnid survival after 48 h [41]. In adults of another crustacean species, the copepod A. tonsa, LC50 concentration of PBDEs-28, -47, -99 and -100 for 48 h was 108, 370, 705 and 520 mg/L, respectively [40,42].…”

The reproductive toxicity on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis induced by BDE-47 and studies on the effective mechanism based on antioxidant defense system changes

“…Another study found that PBDEs , with the exception of BDE-99, inhibit the larval development rate of the marine copepod A. tonsa; however, the egg-hatching rate was not affected in all of the treated groups (Wollenberger et al, 2005). The obtained result was contradictive, and Evandri et al (2003) reported that BDE-99 exhibited more severe reproductive toxicity on the crustacean Daphnia magna than BDE-47. In addition, previous studies have found that PBDEs (33.7% tetra-BDE, 54.6% penta-BDE and 11.7% hexa-BDE) at a concentration of 20 lg L À1 do not cause significant reproductive toxicity on D. magna after exposure for 21 days (Drottar, 1998).…”

Chronic toxicity of 2,4,2′,4′‐tetrabromodiphenyl ether on the marine alga Skeletonema costatum and the crustacean Daphnia magna

“…The EC50 determined for BDE 47 (70 μg/L) is approximately a factor of seven higher than data reported by Walsh et al [14] for hexabromocyclododecane, but lower than the EC50s for tetrabromobisphenol A (90–890 μg/L) with the same species. Interestingly, our data suggest that BDE 47 seems to be several orders of magnitude more toxic than the higher brominated diphenyl ethers, such as 2,2′,4,4′,5‐pentabromodiphenylether (BDE 99), in growth inhibition studies with another algal species [11].…”

“…In aquatic species, such as fish, PBDEs seem to affect phase 1 and phase 2 biotransformation, produce fatty livers, alter blood levels of glucose and hematocrit, and reduce spawning success [8,9]. Toxicity data on invertebrates and algae seems, in general, to be limited to a few studies regarding selected PBDE congeners [10–12].…”