Identification of phototransformation products of prednisone by sunlight: Toxicity of the drug and its derivatives on aquatic organisms

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry 2003-03, Vol.22 (3), p.534-539
• Main Authors: DellaGreca, Marina, Fiorentino, Antonio, Iesce, Maria Rosaria, Isidori, Marina, Nardelli, Angela, Previtera, Lucio, Temussi, Fabio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aquatic organisms; Biological and medical sciences; Brachionus calyciflorus; Ceriodaphnia dubia; Cladocera; Crustacea - drug effects; Daphnia magna; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Eukaryota - drug effects; Fresh water environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Photochemical derivatives; Prednisone; Prednisone - analogs & derivatives; Prednisone - radiation effects; Prednisone - toxicity; Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata; Rotifera; Rotifera - drug effects; Selenastrum capricornutum; Spectroscopic characterization; Sunlight; Thamnocephalus platyurus; Toxicity; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Toxicity Tests, Chronic; Water Pollutants, Chemical - radiation effects; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620220310

Solar simulator irradiation of an aqueous suspension of prednisone, a widely prescribed drug, produces seven photochemical derivatives. The compounds have been identified on the basis of their physical features. All the chemicals have been tested to evaluate their toxic effects on freshwater organisms from different trophic levels. The rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and two crustaceans, the cladoceran Daphnia magna and the anostracan Thamnocephalus platyurus, were used to perform acute toxicity tests. Chronic toxicity tests have been performed on the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) and the crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia. The results showed low acute and chronic toxicity of prednisone. Some of the photoproducts had high toxic effects on C. dubia.