Toxicity of triclosan, an antimicrobial agent, to a nontarget freshwater zooplankton species, Moina macrocopa

Abstract

The toxicity of triclosan (TCS) on the freshwater cladoceran Moina macrocopa was investigated by acute and chronic toxicity assessments followed by genotoxicity and oxidative stress response analyses. The 48‐h LC50 of TCS for ≤24‐h‐old M. macrocopa was determined as 539 μg L−1. Chronic exposure to TCS at concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 μg L−1 showed a stimulatory effect at low concentrations (≤10 μg L−1) and an inhibitory effect at high concentrations (≥50 μg L−1) on growth, reproduction, and population‐growth‐related parameters of M. macrocopa. The genotoxicity test results indicated that TCS concentrations ranging from 50 to 100 μg L−1 can alter individuals' DNA. Analysis of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione s‐transferase (GST) demonstrated increased levels of these enzymes at high TCS concentrations. Our results indicated that TCS concentrations found in the natural environment have minimal acute toxicity to M. macrocopa. However, TCS at even low concentrations can significantly affect its growth, reproduction, and population‐growth‐related characteristics. The observed responses suggest a hormetic dose–response pattern and imply a potential endocrine‐disrupting effect of TCS. Our molecular and biochemical findings indicated that high concentrations of TCS have the potential to induce oxidative stress that may lead to DNA alterations in M. macrocopa.