title: On the relevance of genotoxicity for fish populations I: effects of a model genotoxicant on zebrafish (Danio rerio) in a complete life-cycle test.
abstract: Genotoxicity may be detected in surface waters by means of various genotoxicity assays. In order to enable an ecotoxicological assessment of the consequences of such genotoxic potential for fish populations, a complete life-cycle test with zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the model genotoxicant 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (NQO) was conducted. Zebrafish (f1) were continuously exposed to NQO (i.e. 0.1, 0.3, 1.1, 2.9, and 14.6 microg/l, respectively) from fertilised eggs until sexual maturity. In addition to reproduction studies in the f1-generation, f2-fish were exposed to NQO during the first 6 weeks of development. Up to 2.9 microg/l NQO, fish did not display differences in survival and growth (P < 0.05). A NQO concentration of 14.6 microg/l, however, was lethal. Female fish exposed to all NQO concentrations up to 2.9 microg/l displayed a significant reduction in egg production (P < 0.05). A mathematical simulation revealed that exposure to weak concentrations of NQO is leading to an elevated extinction risk.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden University of Technology, Mommsenstr. 13, D-01062 Dresden, Germany. diekmann@igb-berlin.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diekmann
authors.forename: Veit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hultsch
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagel
mesh_terms: D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide