Toxicity prediction and effect characterization of 90 pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs measured in plasma of fish from a major European river (Sava, Croatia). (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malev, Olga; Lovrić, Mario; Stipaničev, Draženka; Repec, Siniša; Martinović-Weigelt, Dalma; Zanella, Davor; Ivanković, Tomislav; Sindičić Đuretec, Valnea; Barišić, Josip; Li, Mei; Klobučar, Göran
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 266:Part 3(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Fish plasma model -- Pharmaceuticals -- Illicit drugs -- ToxCast; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Chemical analysis of plasma samples of wild fish from the Sava River (Croatia) revealed the presence of 90 different pharmaceuticals/illicit drugs and their metabolites (PhACs/IDrgs). The concentrations of these PhACs/IDrgs in plasma were 10 to 1000 times higher than their concentrations in river water. Antibiotics, allergy/cold medications and analgesics were categories with the highest plasma concentrations. Fifty PhACs/IDrgs were identified as chemicals of concern based on the fish plasma model (FPM) effect ratios (ER) and their potential to activate evolutionary conserved biological targets. Chemicals of concern were also prioritized by calculating exposure-activity ratios (EARs) where plasma concentrations of chemicals were compared to their bioactivities in comprehensive ToxCast suite of in vitro assays. Overall, the applied prioritization methods indicated stimulants (nicotine, cotinine) and allergy/cold medications (prednisolone, dexamethasone) as having the highest potential biological impact on fish. The FPM model pointed to psychoactive substances (hallucinogens/stimulants and opioids) and psychotropic substances in the cannabinoids category (i.e. CBD and THC). EAR confirmed above and singled out additional chemicals of concern - anticholesteremic simvastatin and antiepileptic haloperidol. Present study demonstrates how the use of a combination of chemical analyses, and bio-effects based risk predictions with multiple criteria can help identify priority contaminants in freshwaters. The results reveal a widespread exposure of fish to complex mixtures of PhACs/IDrgs, which may target common molecular targets. While many of the prioritized chemicals occurred at low concentrations, their adverse effect on aquatic communities, due to continuous chronic exposure and additive effects, should not be neglected. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Ninety pharmaceuticals/illicit drugs and their metabolites were analyzed. Fish plasma model and ToxCast data were used to identify chemicals of concern. Nicotine, cotinine, prednisolone and dexamethasone: chemicals of concern. Fish plasma model pointed psychoactive chemicals as potentially hazardous to fish.