Effects of Three Organic Wastewater Contaminants on American Toad, Bufo americanus, Tadpoles

Smith, Geoffrey R.; Burgett, Amber A.

doi:10.1007/s10646-004-1352-7

Cited by 35 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…Smith and Burgett (2005) reported that environmentally relevant concentrations of caffeine (0.6-600 lg/l) did not affect the survivorship or activity of American toad (Bufo americanus) tadpoles. Similarly, Quinn et al (2008) classified caffeine as non-toxic based on acute (mortality) and chronic (feeding behavior, attachment, and growth) toxicity tests on the freshwater cnidarian Hydra attenuata.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Expression of HSP70 in Mytilus californianus following exposure to caffeine

2011

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Caffeine, a biologically active drug with many known molecular targets, is recognized as a contaminant of marine systems. Although the concentrations of caffeine reported from aquatic systems are low (ng/l-μg/l), harmful ecological effects not detected by traditional toxicity tests could occur as a result of caffeine contamination. We used Hsp70, a molecular biomarker of cellular stress, to investigate the sub-lethal cellular toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of caffeine on the mussel Mytilus californianus, a dominant species in the rocky intertidal zone along the Oregon Coast. Hsp70 concentrations in the gill and mantle tissue of mussels exposed to 0.05, 0.2, and 0.5 μg/l of caffeine for 10, 20, and 30 days were compared to basal levels in control mussels. Hsp70 in the gill tissue of M. californianus had an initial attenuation of the stress protein followed by a significant up-regulation relative to controls in all but the 0.5 μg/l treatment. Hsp70 in the mantle tissue of mussels exposed to caffeine did not differ from control mussels. This study provides laboratory evidence that environmentally relevant concentrations of caffeine can exert an effect on M. californianus gill tissue at the molecular-level.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Expression of HSP70 in Mytilus californianus following exposure to caffeine

2011

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“…Studies assessing the potential environmental risk of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems have primarily focused on acute toxicity tests for higher organisms (e.g., invertebrates and fish; Smith and Burgett 2005;Crane et al 2006;Heckmann et al 2007) with limited data assessing effects on microbial organisms (Lawrence et al 2005). Microbial processes (respiration, nutrient uptake) are a holistic measure of ecosystem function as they are essential to nutrient flow and the transformation of organic matter (Hall and Meyer 1998;Hill et al 2000;Balser et al 2006;Nweke et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of nonprescription pharmaceuticals in central Indiana streams and effects on sediment microbial activity

Bunch

Bernot

2010

Ecotoxicology

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Since the discovery of trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in streams and treated drinking water around the world, a call has been made by both the scientific community and the general public to increase understanding of the potential effects these compounds may have on freshwater integrity. We measured abundance and distribution of pharmaceuticals in headwater streams across the Upper White River Watershed of central Indiana. Four nonprescription pharmaceuticals (1,7-dimethylxanthine, caffeine metabolite; acetaminophen; caffeine; cotinine, nicotine metabolite) were found at one or more sites with mean concentrations of 0.038, 0.109, 0.057 and 0.041 μg/l, respectively. Caffeine was measured at trace concentrations at all sites sampled. Higher pharmaceutical concentrations were associated with streams having >90% agricultural land use in the sub watershed, suggesting that nonpoint sources, such as septic tanks, may contribute to stream pharmaceutical contamination. To assess the influence of these pharmaceuticals on stream microbial activity, we measured changes in sediment respiration and nutrient uptake in response to pharmaceuticals using both in vitro and in situ techniques. For in vitro experiments, respiration rates were not significantly different from controls with pharmaceutical exposure. However, net NO(3) (-)-N uptake increased significantly with nicotine concentrations. Net NH(4)(+)-N uptake was reduced in response to caffeine and nicotine exposure. In situ experiments indicated nicotine exposure increased microbial respiration. Our data show pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in headwater streams of central Indiana and likely influence stream microbial activity depending on the pharmaceutical compound and history of exposure.

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“…Next, they exposed X. laevis for 11 days to maximum acetaminophen concentrations of 1.0 mg/l and found no significant effect on mass or survivorship (Fraker and Smith, 2005). In separate experiments with Bufo americanus, Smith and Burgett (2005) noted increased mortality associated with 1 mg/l acetaminophen exposure. However, their study was considerably different than ours.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…In addition to using a different anuran model, Smith and Burgett (2005) exposed the organisms for much longer (14 days) and used post-hatch tadpoles which are more sensitive than pre-hatch tadpoles Kendall 2002, 2003). Despite these differences, Smith and Burgett (2005) did not see acetaminophen associated effects on body mass. Tadpoles in the present study did not have an increased mortality or growth reduction associated with 100 mg/l caffeine exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A toxicity and hazard assessment of fourteen pharmaceuticals to Xenopus laevis larvae

2006

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The toxicity of fourteen widely used human pharmaceuticals was determined using the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus (FETAX). Stage 9 Xenopus blastulae were exposed for 96 h to single concentrations of commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), statin blood lipid regulators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, a stimulant, and an anti-epileptic. Toxicity, teratogenicity, minimum concentration to inhibit growth, and types and severity of associated malformations were determined. EC(10)s ranged from 3.0 mg/l to >100 mg/l and LC(10)s ranged from 3.6 mg/l to >100 mg/l. Toxicity varied between and within compound class of pharmaceutical. The fluoroquinolones, stimulants, anti-epileptics, and antibiotics tested were determined to be nontoxic and non-teratogenic at singular, water-soluble concentrations. The hazard quotients (HQ) for the pharmaceuticals ranged from 6.10 x 10(-7 )to 1.6 x 10(-4), all of which are orders of magnitude below EPA's levels for concern for harm to aquatic animals. Thus, based on the data from the present study, concentrations of individual pharmaceuticals currently detected in surface water are far below concentrations of effective and lethal concentrations.

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Effects of Three Organic Wastewater Contaminants on American Toad, Bufo americanus, Tadpoles

Cited by 35 publications

References 32 publications

Expression of HSP70 in Mytilus californianus following exposure to caffeine

Expression of HSP70 in Mytilus californianus following exposure to caffeine

Distribution of nonprescription pharmaceuticals in central Indiana streams and effects on sediment microbial activity

A toxicity and hazard assessment of fourteen pharmaceuticals to Xenopus laevis larvae

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