Ecotoxicological assessment of chemotherapeutic agents using toxicity tests with embryos of Mellita quinquiesperforata

The consumption of anticancer agents has increased in the recent decades, and these substances may be present in sewage. Consequently, they may reach the environment when sanitation infrastructure is ineffective. This study evaluated the toxicity of three anticancer agents—Tamoxifen (TAM), Cisplatin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2020-10, Vol.159, p.111493-111493, Article 111493
Main Authors: Mello, Luiza Costa, da Fonseca, Taina Garcia, Denis Moledode de Souza, Abessa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal embryos
Anticancer properties
Antitumor agents
Biota
Cancer
Chemotherapeutics
Chemotherapy
Cisplatin
Cyclophosphamide
Echinoderms
Ecotoxicity
Eggs
Embryos
Environmental risk
Gametes
Marine organisms
Marine pollution
Mellita quinquiesperforata
Pharmaceuticals
Sanitation
Sewage
Tamoxifen
Toxicity
Toxicity testing
Toxicity tests
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Summary:The consumption of anticancer agents has increased in the recent decades, and these substances may be present in sewage. Consequently, they may reach the environment when sanitation infrastructure is ineffective. This study evaluated the toxicity of three anticancer agents—Tamoxifen (TAM), Cisplatin (CisPt), and Cyclophosphamide (CP)—on the development of embryos of the sand-dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata. Adult individuals were collected in sandy beaches, and gametes were obtained. Freshly-fertilized eggs were exposed to increasing sets of concentrations of each compound, and the effective concentrations needed to cause a 50% effect in the organisms (EC50) were calculated. The three compounds were toxic, and their EC50 values were 16.78 ± 2.42 ng·L−1 (TAM), 27.20 ± 38.26 ng·L−1 (CisPt), and 101.82 ± 70.96 ng·L−1 (CP). There is no information on the environmental levels of these compounds in Brazil, but as they were already detected in ng·L−1 levels worldwide, it can be expected that these substances pose environmental risks to the marine biota. [Display omitted] •First data of toxicity of TAM, CP and CysPT for neotropical sand-dollar's embryos•Toxicity order was Tamoxifen > Cisplatin > Cyclophosphamide.•Toxicity occurred at ng·L−1 levels (environmental levels).•Potential environmental risks to marine biota when sewage is not treated
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111493