title: Phytotoxicity of 15 common pharmaceuticals on the germination of Lactuca sativa and photosynthesis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
abstract: Pharmaceuticals reach terrestrial environments through the application of treated wastewaters and biosolids to agricultural soils. We have investigated the toxicity of 15 common pharmaceuticals, classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood lipid-lowering agents, β-blockers and antibiotics, in two photosynthetic organisms. Twelve pharmaceuticals caused inhibitory effects on the radicle and hypocotyl elongation of Lactuca sativa seeds. The EC50values obtained were in the range of 170-5656 mg L-1in the case of the radicle and 188-4558 mg L-1for the hypocotyl. Propranolol was the most toxic drug for both root and hypocotyl elongation, followed by the NSAIDs, then gemfibrozil and tetracycline. Other effects, such as root necrosis, inhibition of root growth and curly hairs, were detected. However, even at the highest concentrations tested (3000 mg L-1), seed germination was not affected. NSAIDs decreased the photosynthetic yield of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, but only salicylic acid showed EC50values below 1000 mg L-1. The first effects detected at low concentrations, together with the concentrations found in environmental samples, indicate that the use of biosolids and wastewaters containing pharmaceuticals should be regulated and their compositions assessed in order to prevent medium- and long-term impacts on agricultural soils and crops.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, San Jorge University, Villanueva de Gállego, 50830, Zaragoza, Spain. rpino@usj.es.
authors.forename: Ma Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.affiliation: Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, CSIC, Av. Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Selene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñiz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, San Jorge University, Villanueva de Gállego, 50830, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Jonatan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Val
authors.affiliation: Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, CSIC, Av. Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000187:drug effects*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D018545:Lactuca / Q000187:drug effects*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013752:Tetracycline
keywords: Biosolids; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Lactuca sativa; Pharmaceuticals; Phytotoxicity; Wastewaters