The physiological effects of acute and sub-lethal exposure to phenol on antioxidant enzyme activity in the freshwater sludge worm Tubifex tubifex

Abstract

The current study investigates the severe effects of commonly employed chemicals, such as phenol, on the freshwater bottom-dwelling annelids of Tubifex tubifex. In an acute toxicity test, phenol's 96-hour LC50 value against Tubifex tubifex was identified to be 221.552 mg/L. Using the GUTS simulation, which places the GUTS-SD model on top of the GUTS-IT model, it was possible to confirm that the test organism would survive an acute exposure to phenol overall. After 14 days of treatment with 10 % and 20 % of the phenol's 96-hour LC50 values, long-term bioassays revealed changes in protein levels and in oxidative stress enzyme levels. Total protein concentration dropped during the bioassay, but levels of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GST, SOD, and MDA) increased. The Pearson correlation matrix and the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index were used for examining the relationship between biomarkers, toxicants, and phenol-induced stress. The results show that exposure to phenol is detrimental to the survival and general health of Tubifex tubifex.