Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant used worldwide as a plasticizer and solvent in many formulations. Based on available toxicological data, it has been classified as toxic for reproduction and as an endocrine disruptor. Despite this, ecotoxicological studies in aquatic wildlife organisms are still scarce. In the present work, the toxic molecular alterations caused by DEHP in aquatic larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius have been studied, by analyzing the transcriptional activity of genes related to some vital cellular pathways, such as the ribosomal machinery (rpL4, rpL13), the cell stress response (hsc70, hsp70, hsp40, hsp27), the ecdysone hormone pathway (EcR), the energy metabolism (GAPDH), and detoxication processes (CYP4G). Environmentally relevant concentrations (10−3 to 105 μg/L) and exposure conditions (24 to 96 h) have been tested, as well as the toxic effects after DEHP withdrawal. Although the compound caused no mortality, significant changes were detected in almost all the studied biomarkers: e.g. strong repression of hsp70; general inhibition of EcR; GAPDH activity loss in long exposures; among others. Our data show a general transcriptional downregulation that could be associated with an adaptive response to cell damage. Besides, the activity of the compound as an ecdysone antagonist and its delayed effects over almost all the biomarkers analyzed are described as novel toxic targets in insects.
Highlights
Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a family of man-made chemicals widely used since 1930s as plasticizers in the manufacture and processing of plastic materials, and which appear in the composition of hundreds of consumer products, such as paints, detergents, adhesives, solvents, lubricants, insecticides, cosmetics and personal care products, among others [1,2]
The stability shown by both rpL4 and rpL13 in 24-h exposures, confirms that the ribosomal machinery does not seem to be an early target of the toxic effect of low doses of the xenobiotic, in accordance with the results described by [66] for the ribosomal genes rpS3, rpS6, rpL11, rpL13, and rpL15 in a higher Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) concentration
The present study indicates that DEHP, the most commonly used plasticizer in the world, induces transcriptional alterations in exposed larvae of C. riparius
Summary
Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a family of man-made chemicals widely used since 1930s as plasticizers in the manufacture and processing of plastic materials, and which appear in the composition of hundreds of consumer products, such as paints, detergents, adhesives, solvents, lubricants, insecticides, cosmetics and personal care products, among others [1,2]. Given that PAEs are not chemically bound to the polymeric matrix, they can gradually enter the environment by losses during their manufacturing, storage, use, and disposal [6,7], and can leach, migrate or evaporate into indoor air and atmosphere, soil, water, and a variety of materials such as foodstuff or medical devices, among others [1,8,9,10]. These characteristics, along with their physico-chemical properties, have turned PAEs into ubiquitous environmental pollutants that represent serious risks to human and environmental health
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