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Neurotoxicity in Aquatic Systems: Evaluation of Anthropogenic Trace Substances
Citation:
Padilla, S. Neurotoxicity in Aquatic Systems: Evaluation of Anthropogenic Trace Substances. Effect-Related Evaluation of Antropogenic Trace substances – Concepts for Genotoxicity, Neurotoxicity and Endocrine Effects, Aachen, GERMANY, October 22 - 23, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating methods to screen and prioritize large numbers of chemicals for developmental toxicity, as well as acute and developmental neurotoxicity. In this endeavor, one of our focuses is on contaminants found in drinking water. To expedite our screen and to make it as applicable as possible to both ecological and human health, we are using a vertebrate model beneficial in both arenas: zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating methods to screen and prioritize large numbers of chemicals for developmental toxicity, as well as acute and developmental neurotoxicity. In this endeavor, one of our focuses is on contaminants found in drinking water. To expedite our screen and to make it as applicable as possible to both ecological and human health, we are using a vertebrate model beneficial in both arenas: zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish toxicity has be shown to be predictive of toxicity in other fish species and other vertebrates, making it an ideal translational model for both ecotoxicological and human health investigation. Our testing format allows evaluation of large numbers of larvae, chemicals and chemical concentrations. Using these methods, we have explored the toxicity of two groups of water contaminants: (1) x-ray contrast media (iopamidol, iopromide, diatrizoate, or iohexol) and their interaction with water treatment (chlorination or chloramination) and (2) various flame-retardant chemicals [t-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, isodecyl diphenyl phosphate, isopropylated phenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tetrabromobisphenol A, tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate, tris (1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate, tri-o-cresyl phosphate, and 2,2-,4,4’-tetrabromodiphenyl ether]. The developmental toxicity of the X-ray contrast media showed an interaction of water treatment: chlorination potentiated the developmental toxicity of diatrizoate. Acute administration of all of the organophosphorus based flame retardants altered the behavior of larval zebrafish, while many produced developmental neurotoxicity at subteratogenic concentrations. Results from these studies illustrate the usefulness of a zebrafish larval assay in the identification and characterization of the toxicity of water contaminants. This abstract may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.