Toxicity of prednisolone, dexamethasone and their photochemical derivatives on aquatic organisms.
Light exposure of aqueous suspensions of prednisolone and dexamethasone causes their partial phototransformation. The photoproducts, isolated by chromatographic techniques, have been identified by spectroscopic means. Prednisolone, dexamethasone and their photoproducts have been tested to evaluate their acute and chronic toxic effects on some freshwater chain organisms. The rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and the crustaceans Thamnocephalus platyurus and Daphnia magna were chosen to perform acute toxicity tests, while the alga Pseudokircheneriella subcapitata (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) and the crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia to perform chronic tests. The photochemical derivatives are more toxic than the parent compounds. Generally low acute toxicity was found. Chronic exposure to this class of pharmaceuticals caused inhibition of growth population on the freshwater crustacean C. dubia while the alga P. subcapitata seems to be less affected by the presence of these drugs.
Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Biochimica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. dellagre@unina.it
Marina
M
DellaGreca
Antonio
A
Fiorentino
Marina
M
Isidori
Margherita
M
Lavorgna
Lucio
L
Previtera
Maria
M
Rubino
Fabio
F
Temussi
D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects*; D005618:Fresh Water; D010777:Photochemistry; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D012403:Rotifera / Q000187:drug effects*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D003907:Dexamethasone; D011239:Prednisolone