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Biomarker assessment of toxicity with miniaturised bioassays: diclofenac as a case study

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Abstract

The development of suitable biomarker-based microbioassays with model species with ecological relevance would help increase the cost-efficiency of routine environmental monitoring and chemical toxicity testing. The anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac has been widely reported in the environment but ecotoxicological data are scarce. The aim of this work is to assess the acute and chronic sublethal toxicity of diclofenac in relevant taxa of aquatic and riparian ecosystems (the fish Danio rerio and the fern Polystichum setiferum). Reliable biomarkers of cell viability (mitochondrial activity), plant physiology (chlorophyll), growth (DNA content) or oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) were assessed as sensitive endpoints of toxicity. DNA quantification shows that diclofenac induces acute lethal phytotoxicity at 24 and 48 h (LOECs 30 and 0.3 μg l−1, respectively). Hormetic effects in mitochondrial activity in spores of Polystichum setiferum mask lethality, and adverse effects are only observed at 48 h (LOEC 0.3 μg l−1). In chronic exposure (1 week) LOEC for DNA is 0.03 μg l−1. Mitochondrial activity shows a strong hormetic stimulation of the surviving spore population (LOEC 0.3 μg l−1). Little changes are observed in chlorophyll autofluorescence (LOEC 0.3 μg l−1). A very short exposure (90 min) of zebrafish embryos induces a reduction of lipid peroxidation at 0.03 μg l−1. Environmental concentrations of diclofenac can be deleterious for the development of significant populations of sensitive individuals in aquatic and riparian ecosystems.

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Abbreviations

Malondialdehyde:

MDA

Sewage treatment plants:

STPs

Thiobarbituric acid:

TBA

Trichloroacetic acid:

TCA

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Castilla-La Mancha (project FISCAM 2007/08) for funding, and to Dr Pablo J. García Cambero for revision of the work and advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology and Geology Department, ESCET, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/Tulipán s/n, 28933, Mostóles, Madrid, Spain

    Raquel Feito & Myriam Catalá

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Science, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/Atenas s/n, 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

    Yolanda Valcárcel

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  1. Raquel Feito
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  2. Yolanda Valcárcel
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  3. Myriam Catalá
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Correspondence to Raquel Feito.

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Feito, R., Valcárcel, Y. & Catalá, M. Biomarker assessment of toxicity with miniaturised bioassays: diclofenac as a case study. Ecotoxicology 21, 289–296 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0790-2

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