Abstract
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, also known as BTEX, are released into environmental media by petroleum product exploratory and exploitative activities and are harmful to humans and animals. Testing the effects of these chemicals on a significantly large scale requires an inexpensive, rapidly developing model organism such as Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, the toxicological profile of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, and o-xylene in D. melanogaster was evaluated. Adult animals were monitored for acute toxicity effects. Similarly, first instar larvae reared separately on the same compounds were monitored for the ability to develop into adult flies (eclosion). Further, the impact of fixed concentrations of benzene and xylene on apoptosis and mitosis were investigated in adult progenitor tissues found in third instar larvae. Toluene is the most toxic to adult flies with an LC50 of 0.166 mM, while a significant and dose-dependent decrease in fly eclosion was observed with benzene, p-xylene, and o-xylene. An increase in apoptosis and mitosis was also observed in animals exposed to benzene and p-xylene. Through Genome Wide Association Screening (GWAS), 38 regions of the D. melanogaster genome were identified as critical for responses to p-xylene. This study reveals the strength of D. Melanogaster genetics as an accessible approach to study BTEX compounds.
Highlights
Volatile organic aromatic compounds have experienced a surge in their environmental presence as a result of increased industrial combustions, vehicular movement, and petroleum operations (Ojiodu, 2013; Cheng et al, 2018)
We first determined the LC50 in adult D. melanogaster following 96 h of BTEX exposure (96 h LC50)
Our results show that, despite the volatility of most BTEX compounds, both larval and adult stage D. melanogaster can be used to study effects on developmental and acute toxicity
Summary
Volatile organic aromatic compounds (mainly BTEX) have experienced a surge in their environmental presence as a result of increased industrial combustions, vehicular movement, and petroleum operations (Ojiodu, 2013; Cheng et al, 2018). Several years of oil exploration by Multinational Corporations as well as the spillage and gas flaring associated with such activities has led to a degraded environment (Ebegbulem et al, 2013). Release of petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, whether by accident or due to anthropogenic activities, impacts water and soil and may contribute to regional or atmospheric pollution (Ite et al, 2013). Aside from oil spills and accidents, petroleum pollutant sources could be due to lack of maintenance culture, deliberate acts of violence, bunkering evaporative emission in gas stations, and release of volatile components of gasoline through automobile exhausts (McInnes, 1996; Nwilo and Badejo, 2005). Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and other aromatic hydrocarbons are predominant components of emissions from gasoline and diesel-powered engines (Friedrich and Obermeier, 1999).
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