A Preliminary Ecotoxicity Study of Pharmaceuticals in the Marine Environment

• Published in: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A Part A, 2006-11, Vol.69 (21), p.1959-1970
• Main Authors: Mei Fun Choong, Amy, Lay-Ming Teo, Serena, Lene Leow, Jo, Ling Koh, Hwee, Chi Lui Ho, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclizine - chemistry; Cyclizine - toxicity; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Larva - drug effects; Light; Molecular Structure; Oceans and Seas; Prochlorperazine - chemistry; Prochlorperazine - toxicity; Seawater - chemistry; Thoracica - drug effects; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1528-7394; 1087-2620
• DOI: 10.1080/15287390600751371

Environmental fates and effects of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment have been the focus of recent research in environmental ecotoxicology. Worldwide studies of common over-the-counter pharmaceuticals have reported detectable levels in the aquatic environment, but there are few studies examining impacts on marine habitats. These drugs can affect the functions of various vertebrates and invertebrates. The stability of two pharmaceuticals, cyclizine (CYC) and prochlorperazine (PCZ), in seawater was examined under light and dark conditions, as well as the toxicity of these compounds to larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite, which is a cosmopolitan marine organism found in most of the world's oceans. CYC was very stable under all the tested conditions. On the other hand, PCZ degraded in light but not in the dark, and was more stable in seawater than fresh water. For the barnacle larvae, the LC 50 of prochlorperazine was 0.93 μg/ml and the LC 50 for CYC was approximately 0.04 μg/ml.