title: Hypocholesterolaemic pharmaceutical simvastatin disrupts reproduction and population growth of the amphipod Gammarus locusta at the ng/L range.
abstract: Simvastatin (SIM), a hypocholesterolaemic drug, is among the most widely used pharmaceuticals worldwide and is therefore of emerging environmental concern. Despite the ubiquitous nature of SIM in the aquatic ecosystems, significant uncertainties exist about sublethal effects of the drug in aquatic organisms. Therefore, here we aimed at investigating a multi-level biological response in the model amphipod Gammarus locusta, following chronic exposures to low levels of SIM (64 ng/L to 8 μg/L). The work integrated a battery of key endpoints at individual-level (survival, growth and reproduction) with histopathological biomarkers in hepatopancreas and gonads. Additionally, an individual-based population modelling was used to project the ecological costs associated with long-term exposure to SIM at the population level. SIM severely impacted growth, reproduction and gonad maturation of G. locusta, concomitantly to changes at the histological level. Among all analysed endpoints, reproduction was particularly sensitive to SIM with significant impact at 320 ng/L. These findings have important implications for environmental risk assessment and disclose new concerns about the effects of SIM in aquatic ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: tneuparth@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuparth
authors.affiliation: IMAR-Instituto do Mar, Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carmen B de Los
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: IMAR-Instituto do Mar, Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: IMAR-Instituto do Mar, Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; FCUP-Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: santos@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: Miguel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: Amphipods, Chronic bioassays; Emerging pollutants; Multi-level responses; Simvastatin