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Acute toxicity of 353-nonylphenol and its metabolites for zebrafish embryos

  • AREA 7 • RISK ASSESSMENT • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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An Erratum to this article was published on 03 April 2009

Abstract

Background, aim and scope

Nonylphenol (NP) can be detected in the aquatic environment all over the world. It is applied as a technical mixture of isomers of which 353-NP is the most relevant both in terms of abundance (about 20% of total mass) and endocrine potential. 353-NP is metabolised in sewage sludge. The aims of the present study were to determine and to compare the acute toxicity of t-NP, 353-NP and its metabolites as well as to discuss if the toxicity of 353-NP changes during degradation.

Materials and methods

353-NP and two of its metabolites were synthesised. The zebrafish embryo test was performed according to standard protocols. Several lethal and non-lethal endpoints during embryonal development were reported. NOEL, LOEL and EC50 were calculated.

Results

All tested compounds caused lethal as well as non-lethal malformations during embryo development. 353-NP showed a higher toxicity (EC50 for lethal endpoints 6.7 mg/L) compared to its metabolites 4-(3.5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-2-nitrophenol (EC50 13.3 mg/L) and 4-(3,5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-2-bromophenol (EC50 27.1 mg/L).

Discussion

In surface water, concentrations of NP are far below the NOEC identified by the zebrafish embryo test. However, in soils and sewage sludge, concentrations may reach or even exceed these concentrations. Therefore, sludge-treated sites close to surface waters should be analysed for NP and its metabolites in order to detect an unduly high contamination due to runoff events.

Conclusions

The results of the present study point out that the toxicity of 353-NP probably declines during metabolisation in water, sediment and soil, but does not vanish since the major metabolites exhibit a clear toxic potential for zebrafish embryos.

Recommendations and perspectives

Metabolites of environmental pollutants should be included in the ecotoxicological test strategy for a proper risk assessment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forests and Fisheries, Institute for Fishery Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany

    Ulrike Kammann & Michael Vobach

  2. Institute of Statistics, University of Bremen, Bibliothekstr. 1, 28334, Bremen, Germany

    Werner Wosniok

  3. RWTH Aachen, Institute of Environmental Biology and Chemodynamics, Worringerweg 1, 52056, Aachen, Germany

    Andreas Schäffer & Andreas Telscher

  4. Fraunhofer Institute of Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392, Schmallenberg, Germany

    Andreas Schäffer

Authors
  1. Ulrike Kammann
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  2. Michael Vobach
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  3. Werner Wosniok
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  4. Andreas Schäffer
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  5. Andreas Telscher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulrike Kammann.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Henner Hollert

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-009-0123-7

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Kammann, U., Vobach, M., Wosniok, W. et al. Acute toxicity of 353-nonylphenol and its metabolites for zebrafish embryos. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16, 227–231 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-008-0097-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-008-0097-x

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