The growth toxicity and neurotoxicity mechanism of waterborne TBOEP to nematodes: Insights from transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology 2023-03, Vol.256, p.106401-106401, Article 106401
• Main Authors: Ju, Jingjuan, Wu, Xinyue, Mao, Weiya, Zhang, Chenran, Ge, Wenjie, Wang, Yiran, Ma, Siyang, Zhu, Ya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Flame Retardants - analysis; Flame Retardants - toxicity; Molecular mechanism; Nematoda; Organophosphorus Compounds - toxicity; TBOEP; Toxicity; Transcriptome; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106401

•TBOEP exposure caused dose-dependent growth toxicity to C. elegans.•The locomotor behavior of nematodes was significantly inhibited by 5000 ng/L TBOEP.•TBOEP exposure disturbed the neurotransmitter transmission process.•TBOEP exposure affected amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. Tris(2-butoxy) ethyl phosphate (TBOEP) is a typical organophosphorus flame retardant (OPFR), which has been detected in natural water bodies and drinking water and has reached a certain concentration. As a new type of organic pollutant, the environmental health risk of TBOEP needs to be assessed urgently. Here, Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to 0, 50, 500, and 5000 ng/L TBOEP in water for 72 h. The results showed that TBOEP exposure caused concentration-dependent inhibition to the growth of nematodes, while exposure to 5000 ng/L TBOEP significantly inhibited the locomotor behavior of nematodes. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis showed that the disturbances in neurotransmitter transmission and amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism were the reason for the neurotoxicity and growth toxicity of TBOEP to nematodes. These results provide basic data and a theoretical basis for evaluating the environmental health risks of organophosphorus flame retardants. [Display omitted]