Endocrine modulation and toxic effects of two commonly used UV screens on the aquatic invertebrates Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Lumbriculus variegatus.
The two UV screens 3-benzylidene-camphor (3-BC) and 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC) were tested regarding their toxicity and estrogenic activity. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) and two sediment assays with the freshwater invertebrates Lumbriculus variegatus and Potamopyrgus antipodarum were performed. In the YES, both substances activated the human estrogen receptor alpha with EC50 values of 44.2 microM for 3-BC and 44.3 microM for 4-MBC, whereby 4-MBC attained only 8% of the maximal response of 17beta-estradiol. For P. antipodarum embryo production increased after exposure to both substances (EC50 of 4.60 microM 4-MBC=1.17 mg kg(-1)dw) while mortality increased at high concentrations. The reproduction of L. variegatus was decreased by 3-BC with an EC50 of 5.95 microM (=1.43 mg kg(-1)dw) and also by 4-MBC, where no EC50 could be calculated. While reproduction decreased, the worms' weight increased after exposure to 3-BC with an EC50 of 26.9 microM (=6.46 mg kg(-1) dw), hence the total biomass remained unaffected.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Siesmayerstrasse 70, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. claudia.schmitt@ua.ac.be
Claudia
C
Schmitt
Matthias
M
Oetken
Olaf
O
Dittberner
Martin
M
Wagner
Jörg
J
Oehlmann
D000818:Animals; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002164:Camphor / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C511303:3-benzylidene camphor; D002164:Camphor; C038939:enzacamene