Solvent toxicity to amphibian embryos and larvae.
Organic micropollutants are often damaging for aquatic organisms. Being usually hydrophobic compounds, they are often dissolved in an organic co-solvent which increases their solubility in water. The aim of this study was to study the toxicity of various solvents on embryos (protected or not by jelly coat) and on tadpoles of the common frog (Rana temporaria). Tested solvents were methanol (MeOH), methylene chloride (CH(2)Cl(2)), dimethyl sulfoxyde (DMSO), acetone (Ac) and ethanol (EtOH). Embryos exhibited higher mortality rates than tadpoles. Embryos with jelly were more sensitive to high concentration of solvents than embryos without jelly (except for acetone). According to these results, Ac, DMSO and CH(2)Cl(2) can be used as co-solvents in water to help the dissolution of micropollutants at concentration equal to or lower than 0.001 ml/l for frog embryos, and EtOH, Ac and CH(2)Cl(2) at concentration equal to or lower than 0.01 ml/l for Rana temporaria tadpoles.
Marquis
Olivier
O
Université de Savoie, UMR CNRS 5553 Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Campus Scientifique de Savoie-Technolac, 73 376 Le Bourget du Lac, France. olivier.marquis@univ-savoie.fr
Millery
Annie
A
Guittonneau
Sylvie
S
Miaud
Claude
C
D000818:Animals; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000139:chemically induced; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects*; D010577:Petrolatum / Q000494:pharmacology; D011896:Rana temporaria; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012997:Solvents; D010577:Petrolatum