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Pathological Effects and Lethal Concentration of Two Nonionic, Tallowamine-Polyethoxylate Surfactants in White Cachama Piaractus brachypomus

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Abstract

Two nonionic POEA surfactants (CAS No. 61791-26-2), TA15 and TH30, were tested to establish their acute pathological effects and lethal concentrations (LC50) in Piaractus brachypomus. Both compounds are nonionic surfactants produced by the alkoxylation of ethylene oxide with tallow amine, and they are used in variety of industries such as textiles, paints, metal working, agriculture, and polish manufacture. Fish were exposed to six concentrations of TA15 (0.2–4.0 mg/L) or TH30 (8–140 mg/L) for 96 h. The LC50 for TA15 was 2.08 mg/L and for TH30 47.32 mg/L. The main clinical signs observed in fish exposed to 4 mg/L of TA15 and 32 to 140 mg/L of TH30, were lethargy, loss of shoaling behavior, respiratory distress, changes in swimming pattern, such as, loss of balance and abnormal buoyancy, prolapse of the lower lip and superior location in the water column. The highest concentrations of these compounds induced nervous signs and collapse. The relevant macroscopic lesions were skin and fins erosions with necrotic lysis of the caudal peduncle. In addition, hemorrhages in mouth, branchial arches, and petechial hemorrhages in skin were observed. An increased fluid in the celomic cavity and meningeal hemorrhages were also evident. Organs as gills, liver, brain, and anterior kidney presented severe lesions at the highest concentrations of each compound. For the first time, it is reported lesions in interrenal tissues and choroidal bodies, as well as severe telencephalic lesions associated with the POEA toxicity. These last lesions were more severe in fish exposed to TA15 than to TH30, although the pattern of injuries was similar with both substances. According to the Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemical (GHS) by the United Nations, we reported that TA15 is classified as Acute Category 2 and TH30 is Acute Category 3 for white cachama. Due to the low LC50 and the highly toxic effects of both POEA compounds for neotropical fish, a revision of the regulation of the use of herbicide mixtures by Colombian legislation is necessary.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the General Directorate of Research of the Unillanos for the sponsorship of the research project associated with the Doctorate in Agrarian Sciences and to the officials and technical staff of IALL, also to the CORPVET Veterinary Pathology Corporation of Bogotá, Colombia. B. Baldisserotto was a recipient of a Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (CNPq – Brazil) research fellowship.

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  1. GSOA-Aquatic Organisms Health Research Group. Doctorado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de los Llanos, Km 12 Vía Puerto López, Vereda Barcelona, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia

    Pedro René Eslava-Mocha, Anyi Lizeth Vargas-Pulido & Angie Lizeth León-Pinzón

  2. Research Group in Aquatic and Environmental Biotechnology and Toxicology - BioTox, School of Animal Sciences, Universidad de los Llanos, Km 12 Vía Puerto López, Vereda Barcelona, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia

    Yohana María Velasco-Santamaría

  3. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Av. Roraima # 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    Bernardo Baldisserotto

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  1. Pedro René Eslava-Mocha
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Appendix

Appendix

Table 4 Significant lesions (in italics) gills of Piaractus brachypomus exposed to POEA-TA15-96 h
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Table 5 Significant lesions (in italics) gills of Piaractus brachypomus exposed to TH30 for 96 h
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Table 6 Lesiones de la PIEL-POEA-TA15-96 h
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Table 7 Injuries in liver POEA/TA15-96 h
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Table 8 Lesions in telencefalo TA15-POEA-96 h
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Table 9 Lesiones en telencefalo TA15-POEA-96 h
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Table 10 Diencefalo TA15-POEA injuries-96 h
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Table 11 Cranial kidney injury: POEA-TA15-96 h
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Table 12 Kidney injury POEA-TA15-96 h
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Table 13 Skin injuries CL50-TH30-96 h
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Table 14 Injuries in liver POEA-TH30-96 h
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Table 15 Lesions in telencefalo TH30-POEA-96 h
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Table 16 Diencefalo POEA-TH30 injuries-96 h
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Table 17 Cranial kidney injury: POEA-TH30-96 h
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Table 18 Kidney injury POEA-TH30-96 h
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Eslava-Mocha, P.R., Vargas-Pulido, A.L., León-Pinzón, A.L. et al. Pathological Effects and Lethal Concentration of Two Nonionic, Tallowamine-Polyethoxylate Surfactants in White Cachama Piaractus brachypomus. Water Air Soil Pollut 230, 286 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-019-4340-5

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