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Phototoxicity and chronic toxicity of methyl paraben and 1,2-hexanediol in Daphnia magna

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Abstract

Parabens are used as antimicrobial preservatives in consumer products. Exposure to methylparaben (MP) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, therefore, an alternative compound, 1,2-hexanediol (1,2-H), has been applied for cosmetics. In the present study, the phototoxicity of MP and 1,2-H, as well as the toxic effect caused by chronic exposure, were investigated using Daphnia magna. The 48 h acute toxicity tests with D. magna were conducted under indoor or ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation conditions, i.e., exposure to 4 h/d sunlight. Changes in the transcription of genes related to oxidative stress were determined in D. magna juveniles, to investigate the underlying mechanism of phototoxicity. The 21 d chronic toxicity tests of MP and 1,2-H were performed under indoor light irradiation. Exposure to MP under environmental level of UV light was more detrimental to D. magna. Transcripts of catalase and glutathione-S-transferase genes in D. magna was significantly increased by co-exposure to MP and UV light. After 21 d of chronic exposure to MP and 1,2-H, the reproduction no-observed effect concentrations for D. magna were 1 and >10 mg/L, respectively. The present study showed that exposure to UV could magnify the toxicity of MP on daphnids. Although acute and chronic toxicities of 1,2-H were generally lower than those of MP, its effects on other aquatic organisms should not be ignored. Further studies are needed to identify other mechanisms of MP phototoxicity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (Project no. 2015001940002). We thank Environmental Toxicology Laboratory at Seoul National University for providing expertise that greatly assisted the research.

Funding

This study was funded by Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (Project no. 2015001940002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea

    Jiyun Lee & Kyunghee Ji

  2. Department of Health, Environment and Safety, Eulji University, Seongnam, 13135, Republic of Korea

    Nayeon Park & Younglim Kho

  3. Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea

    Kiyoung Lee

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  1. Jiyun Lee
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Correspondence to Kyunghee Ji.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Lee, J., Park, N., Kho, Y. et al. Phototoxicity and chronic toxicity of methyl paraben and 1,2-hexanediol in Daphnia magna . Ecotoxicology 26, 81–89 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1743-6

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