Effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic invertebrates. Part I. The antiepileptic drug carbamazepine

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 2005-10, Vol.49 (3), p.353-361
• Main Authors: OETKEN, M, NENTWIG, G, LÖFFLER, D, TERNES, T, OEHLMANN, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anticonvulsants - toxicity; Applied ecology; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic insects; Aquatic organisms; Aquatic populations; Biological and medical sciences; Carbamazepine - toxicity; Chironomidae; Chironomidae - drug effects; Chironomus riparius; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Female; Fresh Water; Freshwater; Freshwater invertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Invertebrata; Lumbriculus variegatus; Male; Oligochaeta; Oligochaeta - drug effects; Potamopyrgus antipodarum; Reproduction - drug effects; Sediments; Snails - drug effects; Toxicity Tests
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-004-0211-0

The effects of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) were studied in three freshwater invertebrate species representing different taxonomic groups, life histories, and habitats in aquatic ecosystems. The oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus was exposed by way of CBZ-spiked sediments at nominal concentrations between 0.625 and 10 mg/kg dry weight (dw) for 28 days. At the end of the test, reproduction and biomass were monitored as end points. The non-biting midge Chironomus riparius was exposed to CBZ in a series of tests at nominal CBZ concentrations in sediment ranging from 0.16 to 100 mg/kg dw at 20 degrees C and 23 degrees C. Emergence and gender ratio were monitored at the end of the test. The freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum as the third test species was used in a chronic reproduction test for 28 days at aqueous CBZ concentrations from 0.4 to 250 mg/L. Whereas for the oligochaete and the snail no effects were observed, C. riparius exhibited a significant and concentration-dependent decrease of emergence in all test series. No observed effect concentrations and 10% effect concentrations were in the range of 33 to 140 and 70 to 210 microg/kg dw, respectively, based on measured CBZ concentrations in sediments. These low values indicate that CBZ may pose a potential threat for the survival of C. riparius and probably also for other aquatic insect populations in the field.