Abstract
The estuarine planktonic copepods have a wide geographical distribution and commendable tolerance to various kinds of contaminants. The primary aim of the present study was to contrast the impacts of model POPs (TBBPA and HBCD) on three common estuarine planktonic copepods (Oithona similis, Acartia pacifica and Pseudodiaptomus inopinus) and establish a protocol for the assessment of acute toxicity of marine organic pollutants. We first quantified the 96h-LC50 (0.566, 0.04 and 0.257 mg/L of TBBPA to the three subjects above respectively and 0.314 mg/L of HBCD to P. inopinus; all reported concentrations are nominal values). In the sub-lethal toxicity tests, it was turned out that the effects of copepods exposed to TBBPA could product different influences on the energy ingestion and metabolism. Different type of pollutions, meanwhile, could also bring varying degree effect on the target copepods. In general, the indicators (the rate of oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion, food ingestion and filtration) in higher concentration groups showed marked significant difference compared with controls as well a dose-effect relationship. The study also extended the research on the joint toxicity of TBBPA and HBCD based on the survival rate of P.inopinus. Whether 1:1 concentration or 1:1 toxic level, the research showed synergy effect relative to single exposure conditions. The result indicated that current single ecological testing used for environmental protection activities may underestimate the risk for copepods. It was also demonstrated that short-term sub-lethal experiment could be a standard to evaluate the sensitivity of copepods to POPs.
Highlights
To reduce the frequency and extent of fire, human usage of flame retardants in industrial goods and everyday life has gradually increased over the last century[1,2,3]
The results showed that with Tetrabromobis-phenol A (TBBPA) concentration enrichment, the filtration and ingestion rates of O.similis both rose at beginning declined in the experimental doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147790.g001
Other research in our lab has calculated that the 96h-LC50 of P.inopinus exposed to HBCD was 0.314 mg/L, which was very close to the value of TBBPA
Summary
To reduce the frequency and extent of fire, human usage of flame retardants in industrial goods and everyday life has gradually increased over the last century[1,2,3]. Flame retardants are classified based on their elements: halogen (includes brominated and chlorinated), phosphorous and antimony-containing[4]. Due to their thermostability and flame retarding effects. Tetrabromobis-phenol A (TBBPA) is currently one of the most productive BFRs around the world[11]. In spite of a relatively short biological half-life and low reactivity, TBBPA can contaminate the environment when released from the product both during and after use[15, 16]. Zhang P Q et al (2006) measured that the mean concentration of TBBPA in surface water of Chao Lake (Anhui province, China) was 0.52 μg/L, and 21.96~481.80 ng/g (dry weight) in sediment[18]. Tests on seawater showed that the level of TBBPA was up to 39~673 ng/L in Circum-Bohai area of China[19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
