Environmental levels of ultraviolet light potentiate the toxicity of sulfonamide antibiotics in Daphnia magna.
We assessed the phototoxicity of several major sulfonamide antibiotics, i.e., sulfathiazole, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole, using acute 48 and 96 h Daphnia magna immobilization toxicity test under several indoor and outdoor lighting conditions. The lighting conditions were as follows: (1) fluorescent light only, (2) continuous irradiation with 15 microW/cm(2) UVB, (3) pulsed irradiation with 90 microW/cm(2) UVB for 4 h/d, and (4) natural sunlight (outdoors). Laboratory tests showed that phototoxicity resulting from exposure to continuous UVB light generally increased the acute toxicity of the sulfonamides in D. magna by up to 2.3-fold. However, pulsed UVB exposure resulted in a greater increase in phototoxicity. Compared to fluorescent light only (no UVB), pulsed UVB irradiation (96 h) resulted in 12.0-, 5.8-, and 4.4-fold increases in toxicity for sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, and sulfamethoxazole, respectively. This suggests that the mode of UV irradiation is more important than the dose (UV-intensity x exposure time) for the photo-enhancement of sulfonamide toxicity. Natural sunlight enhanced the toxicity of the sulfonamides to an even greater degree, likely because of the contribution of UVA light. This study suggests that without taking into account the effects of UV irradiation, it is possible to underestimate the actual consequences of phototoxic sulfonamide antibiotics in the aquatic environment.
Jung
Jinyong
J
Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 28 Yunkeon, Chongro, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
Kim
Younghee
Y
Kim
Jungkon
J
Jeong
Dae-Hong
DH
Choi
Kyungho
K
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects*; D008027:Light; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D013418:Sulfamethazine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000077589:Sulfathiazole; D013432:Sulfathiazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013432:Sulfathiazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013418:Sulfamethazine; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D000077589:Sulfathiazole