title: Hazard identification and risk characterization of bisphenols A, F and AF to aquatic organisms.
abstract: Production of bisphenol A (BPA) analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) has recently increased, due to clear evidence of adverse effects of BPA on humans and wildlife. Bisphenols (BPs) have already been released into aquatic environment without previous available information about potential adverse effects of BPs and their potential risk to aquatic ecosystems. In this study, lethal and sublethal effects of BPF and BPAF to bacteria, algae, crustacea and fish embryos were investigated and the results were compared to the adverse effects obtained for BPA. We found that BPAF was the most toxic compound to Daphnia magna, Danio rerio and Desmodesmus subspicatus; the lowest 72 h EC50 (median effective concentration) and 21 d NOEC (no observed effect concentration) values were determined at 2.2 mg/L regarding zebrafish hatching success and 0.23 mg/L of BPAF obtained for growth and reproduction of water fleas, respectively. In most cases, BPA was more toxic to D. magna, D. rerio and D. subspicatus in comparison to BPF, but pigmentation of zebrafish embryos after 48 h of exposure and reproduction of water fleas after 21-day D. magna reproductive test exposure to BPF were much more impaired. Risk quotients (measured environmental concentration/21 d NOEC) showed that BPA, BPF and BPAF are recently not chronically hazardous to the survival, reproduction and growth of water fleas in surface waters. On the other hand, we importantly show that currently present BPAF concentrations in surface waters could cause a potential ecological risk to aquatic organisms. In the near future, higher concentrations of BPF and BPAF in surface waters are anticipated and for this reason further testing using test systems with various aquatic species and endpoints are needed to provide additional information about toxic impacts of BPF and BPAF on aquatic biota.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: tatjana.tisler@ki.si.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tišler
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Alja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krel
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Urška
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gerželj
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Boštjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erjavec
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Marija Sollner
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dolenc
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Albin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pintar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish; D000098833:Bisphenol F Compounds; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds; D005466:Fluorocarbons
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010636:Phenols; D014873:Water Pollutants; C000611646:bisphenol F; D000098833:Bisphenol F Compounds; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds; C583074:bisphenol AF; D005466:Fluorocarbons
keywords: Acute toxicity; Bisphenols; Chronic toxicity; Lethal effects; Risk quotient; Sublethal endpoints