Genotoxic and immunotoxic potential effects of selected psychotropic drugs and antibiotics on blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) hemocytes

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2015-07, Vol.202, p.177-186
• Main Authors: Lacaze, Emilie, Pédelucq, Julie, Fortier, Marlène, Brousseau, Pauline, Auffret, Michel, Budzinski, Hélène, Fournier, Michel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; Antibiotics; Biodiversity and Ecology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Comet Assay; DNA Damage; Environmental Sciences; Erythromycin; Genotoxicity; Hemocytes; Hemocytes - drug effects; Hemocytes - immunology; Hemolymph; Intracellular ROS; Invertebrate; Life Sciences; Marine; Mussels; Mytilus edulis; Mytilus edulis - drug effects; Mytilus edulis - genetics; Mytilus edulis - immunology; Phagocytosis; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Phagocytosis - immunology; Pharmaceuticals; Psychotropic drugs; Psychotropic Drugs - toxicity; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Trimethoprim; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.03.025

The potential toxicity of pharmaceuticals towards aquatic invertebrates is still poorly understood and sometimes controversial. This study aims to document the in vitro genotoxicity and immunotoxicity of psychotropic drugs and antibiotics on Mytilus edulis. Mussel hemocytes were exposed to fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and erythromycin, at concentrations ranging from μg/L to mg/L. Paroxetine at 1.5 μg/L led to DNA damage while the same concentration of venlafaxine caused immunomodulation. Fluoxetine exposure resulted in genotoxicity, immunotoxicity and cytotoxicity. In the case of antibiotics, trimethoprim was genotoxic at 200 μg/L and immunotoxic at 20 mg/L whereas erythromycin elicited same detrimental effects at higher concentrations. DNA metabolism seems to be a highly sensitive target for psychotropic drugs and antibiotics. Furthermore, these compounds affect the immune system of bivalves, with varying intensity. This attests the relevance of these endpoints to assess the toxic mode of action of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. •Psychotropic drugs and antibiotics affect the immune system of Mytilus edulis.•Genotoxic and immunotoxic endpoints were relevant to assess pharmaceuticals toxicity.•DNA metabolism is a highly sensitive target for pharmaceuticals.•Fluoxetine and paroxetine were the most toxic compounds on mussel hemocytes. Psychotropic drugs and antibiotics have the potential to cause immune toxicity and genotoxicity on Mytilus edulis hemocytes.