AEO-7 surfactant is “super toxic” and induces severe cardiac, liver and locomotion damage in zebrafish embryos

Environmental Sciences Europe

Nadin Younes¹  Houria Ech-Cherif¹  Gheyath K. Nasrallah²  Maha Al-Asmakh²  A. Bahgat Radwan³  Mostafa H. Sliem³  Aboubakr M. Abdullah⁴  Amin F. Majdalawieh⁵  Sahar I. Da’as⁶  Gianfranco Pintus⁷ 

[1] Biomedical Research Center, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar;Biomedical Research Center, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar;Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Women’s Science building, C01, Doha, Qatar;Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar;Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar;Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar;Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates;Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar;Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates;

关键词: AEO-7 surfactant;    Cardiotoxicity;    Neurotoxicity;    Hepatotoxicity;    Zebrafish embryos;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12302-020-00429-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether-7 (AEO-7), a non-ionic surfactant, has recently been receiving extensive attention from the ocean pipeline industry for its ability to inhibit corrosion. However, the present lack of information concerning the potential environmental toxicity of AEO-7, especially towards aquatic organisms, is a major impediment to its wider application. Here, we assess potential adverse effects of AEO-7 on zebrafish embryos employing a variety of assays, including (i) a mortality/survival assay which allowed the median lethal concentration (LC50) to be calculated; (ii) a teratogenicity assay on the basis of which the no observed effect concentration (NOEC) was determined; and (iii) specific assays of cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity (based on locomotion), hematopoietic toxicity (the level of hemoglobin as revealed by o-dianisidine staining) and hepatotoxicity (liver steatosis and yolk retention examined by staining with Oil Red O).ResultsAEO-7 caused mortality with a calculated LC50 of 15.35 μg/L, which, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Acute Toxicity Rating scale, should be considered “super toxic”. Although at its NOEC (0.8 μg/L), there were no signs of significant teratogenicity, cardiotoxicity, or hemopoiesis toxicity, 3.2 µg/L AEO-7 exerted dramatic detrimental effects on organ development.ConclusionOn the basis of these findings, we recommend that the industrial usage and environmental impact of AEO-7 be re-evaluated and strictly monitored by environmental and public health organizations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY