The use of a Corophium volutator chronic sediment study to support the risk assessment of medetomidine for marine environments. (25th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fox, Michelle; Ohlauson, Cecilia; Sharpe, Alan D.; Brown, Rebecca J.
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology and chemistry. Volume 33:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 937
• Page End: 942
• Publication Date: 2014-02-25
• Subjects: Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.2515
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0730-7268

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="etc2515-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Chronic sediment studies were conducted using the marine amphipod <italic>Corophium volutator</italic> as part of an environmental risk assessment of the novel antifouling compound medetomidine. Two studies were performed, starting with neonates of less than 7 d old. A 28‐d study considered endpoints of survival and growth (length and wet wt) and a 76‐d study looked at survival, growth (length and wet wt), and reproduction (number of gravid females and neonates). Medetomidine was dosed via the sediment at nominal test concentrations of 1.0 µg/kg, 3.2 µg/kg, 10 µg/kg, 32 µg/kg, and 100 µg/kg (dry wt). In the 28‐d growth study, a significant increase in mortality was observed at 32 µg/kg and 100 µg/kg. In the 76‐d reproduction study, there were significant adverse effects on survival (32 µg/kg and 100 µg/kg), growth (100 µg/kg), and reproduction (100 µg/kg). The overall lowest‐observed‐effect concentration was 32 µg/kg medetomidine. For this test substance the increased study duration did not increase the overall sensitivity of the test. The present study suggests that the predicted sediment environmental concentration (PEC<sub>sediment</sub>) of 0.003 µg/kg for medetomidine would not be expected to cause adverse effects on the life history of <italic>C. volutator</italic>. <italic>Environ Toxicol Chem</italic> 2014;33:937–942. © 2014 SETAC</p> </sec> </abstract>