Abstract
Plasticizers such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) are manufactured chemicals produced in high volumes. These chemicals are frequently detected in the aquatic environment and cause toxic effects on organisms. In this study, we assessed the chronic impacts of DEHP and TBOEP, respectively, at the concentration of 100 µg L−1 dissolved in the artificial medium (M4/4) and Mekong River water on life history traits of a tropical micro-crustacean, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, for 14 days. DEHP and TBOEP substantially reduced the survival of C. cornuta. In M4/4 medium, both plasticizers strongly enhanced reproduction but did not influence the growth of C. cornuta. Mekong River water, plasticizers-exposed C. cornuta produced less neonates than those in the control. The detrimental impacts of DEHP and TBOEP on the fitness of C. cornuta were much stronger in natural river water than in M4/4. Our results suggest that plasticizers can cause adverse effects on tropical freshwater cladocerans, particularly in natural water. These results are of a deep concern, as national and international regulatory guidelines which are based on ecotoxicological tests using standard media may not fully capture these effects.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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The authors would like to thank Ms. Thi-Nhu-Phuong Bui, Institute for Environment and Resources for her kind support for the alkalinity and hardness measurement of the test media.
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This research is funded by the Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 106.99–2019.39.
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TSD raised the conceptualization and did the funding acquisition. VTN, MHB, VTT, TLP, and BBT did the investigation, methodology, and data curation. TSD and VTN wrote the original draft. All authors wrote the final manuscript. TSD, CB, and VKD edited, structured the manuscript, and polished the language.
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Dao, TS., Nguyen, VT., Baduel, C. et al. Toxicity of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate to a tropical micro-crustacean (Ceriodaphnia cornuta) is higher in Mekong River water than in standard laboratory medium. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 39777–39789 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18993-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18993-7