Aquatic Toxicity Assessment of the Additive 6-Methylcoumarine Using Four Experimental Systems

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 2009, Vol.56 (1), p.52-59
• Main Authors: Jos, Á, Repetto, G, Ríos, J. C, del Peso, A, Salguero, M, Cameán, A. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Aliivibrio fischeri - drug effects; Aliivibrio fischeri - growth & development; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Applied ecology; Aquatic animals; Aquatic ecology; Bacteria; Bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; Biota; Cell Line - cytology; Cell Line - drug effects; Cell Line - metabolism; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Chemical contaminants; Chlorella vulgaris; Chlorella vulgaris - drug effects; Chlorella vulgaris - growth & development; Cladocera; Cosmetics - adverse effects; Coumarins - toxicity; Daphnia - drug effects; Daphnia - growth & development; Daphnia magna; Dehydrogenase; Dehydrogenases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Gonads - drug effects; Gonads - metabolism; Gonads - pathology; Luminescence; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Morphology; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Pollution; Predictive Value of Tests; Proteins; Salmonidae; Soil Science & Conservation; Studies; Synergistic effect; Toxicity; Toxicity Tests, Acute - methods; Toxicology; Trophic levels; Trout; Vibrio fischeri; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-008-9165-y

The toxicity assessment of chemicals is one of the main issues in the current policies in order to protect the health of the environment and human beings. Food and cosmetic additives have been extensively studied in relation to their toxicity to humans, but data about their ecotoxicological effects are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of the additive 6-methylcoumarine in the aquatic milieu using a test battery comprising experimental model systems from different trophic levels. The inhibition of bioluminiscence was studied in the bacteria Vibrio fischeri (decomposer), the inhibition of growth was evaluated in the alga Chlorella vulgaris (producer) and immobilization was studied in the cladoceran Daphnia magna (first consumer). Finally, several end points were evaluated in the RTG-2 salmonid fish cell line, including neutral red uptake, protein content, methylthiazol tetrazolium salt metabolization, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, lactate dehydrogenase activity and leakage, and morphology. The sensitivity of the test systems employed was as follows: V. fischeri > D. magna > C. vulgaris > RTG-2 cell line. The results show that 6-methylcoumarine is not expected to produce acute toxic effects on the aquatic biota. However, chronic and synergistic effects with other chemicals cannot be excluded and should be further investigated.