We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ecotoxicological responses of marine fish to the organophosphate flame-retardant tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) dietary exposure: Juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) as a case study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers chronically fed juvenile gilthead seabream the flame-retardant and plasticizer TCPP at three concentrations and found it caused metabolic disruption, oxidative damage, and reduced vitellogenin levels at all doses, suggesting a masculinization effect and highlighting the ecotoxicological risks of this widely used organophosphate ester in marine fish.
High Production Volume Chemicals (HPVCs) are contaminants that pose serious threats to aquatic environments and species that inhabit them, given their massive production and ubiquitous distribution across biological compartments. Among them, organophosphate esters (OPEs) are of particular concern, as they are widely used as plasticizers and flame-retardants, and linked to various forms of toxicity in marine organisms. In this study, we investigated the ecotoxicological response of juvenile gilthead seabream Sparus aurata to the OPE tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) following chronic dietary exposure to three different concentrations (low, D1: 0.2 mg kg-1; ecologically relevant, D2: 2 mg kg-1; and high, D3: 10 mg kg-1). Different biomarkers indicative of antioxidant defence mechanisms (catalase, CAT, glutathione S-transferase, GST, activities), metabolism (citrate synthase, CS, lactate dehydrogenase, LDH, activities) and endocrine disruption (vitellogenin content, VTG), as well as cell (lipid peroxidation levels, LPO) and protein damage (ubiquitin content, UBI) were analyzed in liver and muscle to assess TCPP toxicity. High concentrations of TCPP affected S. aurata growth, but not overall fitness condition. Furthermore, metabolic disruption and severe oxidative damages were observed, regardless of exposure dose. VTG content significantly decreased after exposure to all TCPP dosages, indicating a possible masculinization effect. These findings provide new insights to the scientific knowledge on TCPP ecotoxicological attributes and impacts on marine ichthyofauna. In addition, our results confirm the relevance of conducting integrated multi-biomarker approaches to disclose the ecotoxicological effects of poorly studied chemical contaminants and, ultimately, implement wastewater treatment strategies and legislation to protect marine ecosystems from pollution.
More Papers Like This
Ecotoxicological responses of juvenile Sparus aurata to BDE-99 and BPA exposure: A multi-biomarker approach integrating immune, endocrine and oxidative endpoints
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers chronically exposed juvenile sea bream (Sparus aurata) to the flame retardant BDE-99 and the plasticizer BPA, finding that combined exposure produced the most severe disruption of endocrine and immune biomarkers, highlighting that mixture effects of environmental contaminants pose greater risks to marine fish than individual exposures.
Endocrine Disruption in Freshwater Cladocerans: Transcriptomic Network Perspectives on TBOEP and PFECHS Impacts in Daphnia magna
AI summary Read the abstract
Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the flame retardant TBOEP and the PFAS compound PFECHS each disrupt distinct endocrine pathways in Daphnia magna — suppressing moulting and reproduction respectively — yet both converge on Wnt signaling, a conserved developmental pathway. This matters for microplastic pollution research because plastic-associated chemicals like flame retardants and PFAS frequently co-occur with microplastics in aquatic environments and cause compounding endocrine disruption in sentinel invertebrate species.
Interactive Effects of BDE-153 and itsMetabolite 2,4-DBP on Biochemical Statusin Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) — flame retardants found in many plastics — and their metabolites affect biochemical markers in organisms. The findings suggest that even metabolized breakdown products of plastic-associated flame retardants can disrupt normal biological functions.
Multi-mechanistic effects of bisphenol A on testicular dysfunction and endocrine disruption in adult male Labeo bata: oxidative stress, inflammation, and dysregulated energy sensors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that leaches from microplastics in water, affects reproductive function in male fish. They found that chronic BPA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations caused significant testicular damage, including reduced sperm production, increased inflammation, and disrupted hormone signaling. The study reveals multiple mechanisms by which this common microplastic-associated chemical can impair male reproductive health in aquatic species.
From Biomarkers to Transcriptomics: Assessing the Impact of PFOA, TBBPA, and EE2 on the Sentinel Species Mytilus galloprovincialis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to PFOA, TBBPA, and a synthetic estrogen, using transcriptomic and biomarker analysis to show that these emerging contaminants cause significant oxidative stress and endocrine disruption in a widely used marine sentinel species.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.