Date of Award
5-2019
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biological Sciences - Cell and Molecular: M.S.
Department
Biology
College
College of Science and Engineering
First Advisor
Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Second Advisor
Satomi Kohno
Third Advisor
Nathan Bruender
Fourth Advisor
Edward Perkins
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Complex mixtures, Fathead minnow, Contaminant of Emerging Concern, Short-term exposure
Abstract
Aquatic species are exposed to a diverse class of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) throughout different life stages. In this study, the effects of CECs in increasing complexity on three life stages of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were assessed using existing Great Lakes tributaries’ chemical occurrence and concentration data. Fathead minnows were exposed to either a water solvent control, or the following chemicals: 4-nonylphenol (surfactant), 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (corrosion inhibitor, anti-freezing agent), atrazine (herbicide), bisphenol-a (plasticizer), desvenlafaxine (antidepressant), fexofenadine (allergy medication), estrone (hormonal medication), metformin (antidiabetic medication), metolachlor (herbicide), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (insect repellent), sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (flame retardant), fluoranthene (byproduct of organic raw material pyrolysis), imidacloprid (insecticide), triclosan (antibacterial), ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory medication), 17-beta estradiol (hormonal medication), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (energetic), 2,4-dinitroanisole (energetic), 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (energetic), 2,4,6-trinitro-3-bromoanisole (energetic). All chemicals were used in exposures singly and in mixtures of different complexity. Concentration series for the exposures was centered on medium concentration which contained the highest environmentally measured concentrations while low exposure used 1/10th, ultra-low 1/100th and the high exposure was set to 10x the medium exposure concentration. Adult and larval exposures were conducted simultaneously, while embryonic exposures were conducted at a later time using the same exposure waters. The apical endpoints for the study were survival, overall health, and several reproductive behaviors for adult fathead minnows. Survival, and feeding efficiency data were collected for larval fathead minnows. Lastly, time-to-hatch, and developmental abnormality for fathead minnow embryos were also recorded. Results suggest that the 96 hours CEC exposures affect different apical endpoints depending on the exposed life stage. As the complexity of the chemical exposure increased, alterations in endpoints such as courtship behavior in adult fathead minnows became more frequent. Medium and high concentrations elicited the greatest effects. In both single chemical and mixture exposures, concentration-dependent responses were not observed. This study highlights the need for complementary studies at different exposure time points as well as in vivo studies to identify potential “biological fingerprints” of single chemical effects in complex mixtures.
Recommended Citation
Hasbay, Utku, ""From Single Chemicals to Complex Mixtures": Effect of Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Three Life Stages of Pimephales Promelas" (2019). Culminating Projects in Biology. 41.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/biol_etds/41
