Ibuprofen Genotoxicity in Aquatic Environment: An Experimental Model Using Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

Medicines and their metabolites have been found as water contaminants at very low concentrations; moreover, there is no extensive toxicological data to determine the risks associated with their occurrence in water resources. The ibuprofen genotoxicity potential to the Oreochromis niloticus fish (Tilapia), due to nanograms per liter exposure, was evaluated using the micronucleus test. Acute (48 h) and sub-chronic assays (10 days) were carried out at 300 ng/L ibuprofen aquatic concentration comparing with the negative control group (without treatment), with eight animals per group. The results were assessed from the average of triplicate analyses. The micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood of fish was determined using a sample size of 3,000 erythrocytes per animal. Significance was defined using t test (p≤0.05). The bioassay results showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei for both exposure times in comparison to the negative control. The micronucleus frequency observed for the sub-chronic tests was higher than the one identified in the acute assays. The observed ibuprofen genotoxic effects demonstrated an aquatic environmental risk of this pharmaceutical, which occurs for the used fish experimental model in lower concentration than previously described for other aquatic organisms.

Ecotoxic pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other emerging contaminants: A review of environmental, receptor-mediated, developmental, and epigenetic toxicity with discussion of proposed toxicity to humans

“…Reproduction does not appear to be greatly affected by trace-level analgesic contamination as diclofenac was only observed to delay zebrafish hatching at concentrations of 1000-2000µg/L (Hallare et al 2004). At a much lower, and more environmentally appropriate concentration, ibuprofen was indicated to increase in the prevalence of micronuclei in Oreochromis niloticus (tilapia) exposed to 0.3µg/L for 10 days (Ragugnetti et al 2011). Recent evidence suggests naproxen bound to aquatic sediment at levels of 1/10th previously demonstrated LC 50 and NOAEL (339.2mg/kg and 76.6mg/kg respectively) increased protein and lipid oxidation and oxidative DNA damage in the amphipod crustacean H. Azteca (Lucero et al 2015).…”

“…• Renal failure and visceral gout in vultures feeding on diclofenacexposed deceased livestock (Oaks et al 2004) • Renal lesions and gill alterations in trout (Schwaiger et al 2004) • Increased protein and lipid oxidation and oxidative DNA damage in the amphipod crustacean H. Azteca (Lucero et al 2015) • Increase in the prevalence of micronuclei in Oreochromis niloticus (tilapia) exposed to 0.3µg/L for 10 days (Ragugnetti et al 2011) Antibiotics • Development of antibiotic-resistant strains of both environmental and pathogenic bacteria (Baquero et al 2008;Martinez 2009;Hong et al 2013 …”

Photocatalytic Degradation of Ibuprofen Using TiO<sub>2</sub> and Ecotoxicological Assessment of Degradation Intermediates against <i>Daphnia similis</i>

“…Most of the reports study the toxicity of the initial compound and little attention is given to the possible generated by-products [29]- [32]. As mentioned before, IBF is not totally mineralized and therefore some by-products have been generated during TiO 2 /UV irradiation study.…”

Application of Bioassays/Biosensors for the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals in Environmental Samples

“…Two types of bioassays are commonly performed with it: 48-h acute tests using neonates that are <24 h old and 21-day chronic life-cycle tests that are run from birth. These tests have been performed to determine the toxicity of antibiotics [47], analgesics [48], and psychoactive drugs [49]. It has been employed in toxicity studies of antibiotics [40], steroids [41], analgesics [42], and many other pollutants [43].…”