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Environmental Risk Assessment of Drugs in Tropical Freshwaters Using Ceriodaphnia silvestrii as Test Organism

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Abstract

In this study we evaluated the acute (immobility/mortality) and chronic (survival and reproduction) effects of the drugs caffeine, diclofenac sodium salt, ketoprofen, paracetamol and salicylic acid on the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. The environmental risks of these substances for tropical freshwaters were estimated from the risk quotient MEC/PNEC. Sensitivity in acute exposures varied up on the drug as follows: salicylic acid (EC50 = 69.15 mg L− 1) < caffeine (EC50 = 45.94 mg L− 1) < paracetamol (EC50 = 34.49 mg L− 1) < ketoprofen (EC50 = 24.84 mg L− 1) < diclofenac sodium salt (EC50 = 14.59 mg L− 1). Chronic toxicity data showed negative effects of the drugs on reproduction. Paracetamol and salicylic acid caused reduction in fecundity in concentrations starting from 10 mg L− 1 and 35 mg L− 1, respectively. Ketoprofen caused total inhibition at 5 mg L− 1. MEC/PNEC values were relatively low for all drugs. The risk was estimated as low or insignificant, except for caffeine, whose MEC/PNEC value was greater than 1 (moderate risk).

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge CAPES and PROMOB/edital Capes/Fapitec/SE n. 10/2016 for the scholarship and financial support, respectively. R.A.M. has a pos doctoral grant from FAPESP (2017/24126-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PPGECIA and GEEA/DEAM, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, S/N, São Cristóvão, 49100-000, Brazil

    Lucas Lopes Caldas & Andrea Novelli

  2. PPG-SEA and NEEA/CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos Engineering School, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, 13560-970, Brazil

    Raquel Aparecida Moreira & Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espíndola

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  1. Lucas Lopes Caldas
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  2. Raquel Aparecida Moreira
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Correspondence to Lucas Lopes Caldas.

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Caldas, L.L., Moreira, R.A., Espíndola, E.L.G. et al. Environmental Risk Assessment of Drugs in Tropical Freshwaters Using Ceriodaphnia silvestrii as Test Organism. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 110, 106 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03739-z

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