Ecological Risk of Nonylphenol in China Surface Waters Based on Reproductive Fitness

Abstract

It has been recognized that ecological risk assessment based on traditional endpoints of toxicity are unable to provide adequate protection because some chemicals may affect reproductive fitness of aquatic organisms at much lower concentrations. In this paper, predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) for 4-nonylphenol (NP) were derived based either on endpoints of survival, development, and growth or on some nonlethal biomarkers of reproduction, biochemical and molecular biology data. The PNECs derived from reproductive lesion ranged from 0.12 to 0.60 μg NP L −1 , which was significantly lower than those derived from other endpoints. An assessment of ecological risks posed by NP to aquatic organisms in surface waters of China was conducted based on concentration levels of NP in 16 surface waters of 4 major river basins and PNECs derived from reproductive fitness by a tiered ecological risk assessment (ERA). The results showed that 14.2% and 76.5% of surface waters in China may have ecological risks resulting from reproductive fitness if the thresholds of protection for aquatic organisms were set up as 5% (HC5) and 1% (HC1), respectively. The risks were significantly greatest in the Yangtze River Basin than in other major river basins. In comparison with the risks assessed based on traditional endpoints, such as lethality, for those chemicals causing adverse effects on reproduction due to modulation of endocrine function, to be protective of ecosystem structure and function, lesser PNECs, based on sublethal effects of reproduction, were appropriate.

Applying adverse outcome pathways and species sensitivity–weighted distribution to predicted‐no‐effect concentration derivation and quantitative ecological risk assessment for bisphenol A and 4‐nonylphenol in aquatic environments: A case study on Tianjin City, China

“…A much lower PNEC was derived by Crain et al , with a value of 0.03 µg/L based on chronic physiological endpoints. In addition, the calculated PNEC for 4‐NP with a value of 0.721 µg/L was comparable to that derived by the European Commission and Jin et al , with values of 0.33 and 0.12 µg/L, respectively. Overall, differences in the PNECs from different sources were likely attributable to different distribution methods (SSD and SSWD), different statistical extrapolation approaches (e.g., log‐normal and log‐triangular), toxicity data on the basis of different types of endpoints, test media (freshwater and seawater), and assessment factors (values range 1–5).…”

“…Levels of BPA in the water body of Tianjin City were comparable to those detected in surface waters of China , whereas levels of 4‐NP were 1 order of magnitude higher (Supplemental Data, Table S4) . On a global scale, the BPA concentration in river water of Tianjin is considered relatively low.…”

Linking Ah receptor mediated effects of sediments and impacts on fish to key pollutants in the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir, China — A comprehensive perspective

“…Nitro-PAHs and heterocyclic PAHs are suggested as additional target compounds, with a probable further relevance of PAEs and nonylphenol (cf. this study; Cui et al, 2009;Floehr et al, 2013, in press;Jin et al, 2014). Furthermore, endocrine activity should be tested for its significance as a relevant mode-of-action in the area, as it could be determined in several sections of the Yangtze River (as reviewed by Floehr et al, 2013).…”

Derivation of aquatic life criteria for four phthalate esters and their ecological risk assessment in Liao River

“…EDCs are considered to alter hormone levels leading to reproductive effects in aquatic organisms at environmental concentration continuously (Tisler et al, 2016). Previous toxicological studies have demonstrated reproduction was identified as the most sensitive endpoint for EDCs (Caldwell et al, 2008;Jin et al, 2014). Reproductive toxicity includes fecundity, rate of fertilization, hatchability, gonadosomatic index sustained for multiple generations, and the synthesis of vitellogenin (VTG) in fish (Martino-Andrade and Chahoud, 2010).…”