Abstract
Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are important industrial chemicals with high persistence in the environment but poorly characterized ecotoxicological effects. We studied embryotoxic effects of commercial mixture of SCCP (carbon length C-12, 56% of chlorine; CP56-12) and non-chlorinated n-alkane (dodecane, C-12) in the 96h Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay - Xenopus (FETAX). Only weak lethal effects were observed for both substances (the highest tested concentration 500 mg/L of both chemicals caused up to 11% mortality). On the other hand, we observed developmental malformations and reduced embryo growth at 5 mg/l and higher concentrations. However, the effects were not related to chlorination pattern as both SCCPs and dodecane induced qualitatively similar effects. SCCPs also significantly induced phase II detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) in Xenopus laevis embryos even at 0.5 mg/L, and this biomarker might be used as another early warning of chronic toxic effects. Our results newly indicate significant developmental toxicity of both SCCPs and n-dodecane to aquatic organisms along with inductions of specific biochemical toxicity mechanisms.
Highlights
Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are chlorinated derivatives of n-alkanes with carbon chain length ranging from 10 to 13, and a chlorine content between 30% and 70%, by weight
Short chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) have low vapour pressure (2.8 × 10-7 to 0.5 Pa), which is in the range of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) known to undergo long-range atmospheric transport
The EU Directive 2002/45/EC restricts the use of SCCPs in Europe, SCCPs remain of environmental relevance and scientific interest
Summary
Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are chlorinated derivatives of n-alkanes with carbon chain length ranging from 10 to 13, and a chlorine content between 30% and 70%, by weight. They are important industrial chemicals with the main applications as metal working fluids, plasticizers and flame retardants in paints, rubber and textiles, coatings and sealants. Available ecotoxicity data indicate low acute lethality of SCCPs (Thompson and Madeley 1983a; Linden et al 1979) but severe negative effects in aquatic biota were observed after chronic exposures (Bengtson and Ofstad 1982; Madeley and Maddock 1983a). Cooley et al (2001) reported behavioural effects (absent startle response and reduced feeding) and histopathological changes in thyroid gland and liver of juvenile rainbow trout exposed dietary
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