PARENT SESSION

IP01 Ecotoxicity of Pharmaceuticals
B113 & B114
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday

(IP007) A preliminary risk assessment of the blood lipid regulating pharmaceutical, clofibric acid, using three estuarine organisms.

Emblidge, J^{1, 2}, DeLorenzo, M^{1, 3}, ¹ NOAA/National Ocean Service, Charleston, SC, USA² College of Charleston Grice Marine Biology Program, Charleston, SC, USA³ University of South Carolina School of Public Health, Columbia, SC, USA

ABSTRACT- Recently, there has been growing concern regarding environmental contamination by pharmaceuticals. Clofibric acid is the active metabolite of several fibrate drugs taken in large quantities (1-2 grams/person/day) for extended periods of time to reduce blood cholesterol levels. It is extremely persistent and has been detected worldwide in the aquatic environment (concentrations < 10 g/L). Acute toxicity and sublethal effects in estuarine organisms have not been well established. Clofibric acid toxicity was assessed using three estuarine organisms representing three trophic levels: a planktonic green algal species (Dunaliella tertiolecta), a crustacean species (Palaemonetes pugio), and a fish species (Fundulus heteroclitus). Mortality and sublethal physiological endpoints (protein, lipid, cholesterol, and cytochrome P450 levels) were examined in response to clofibric acid exposure. Clofibric acid did not significantly affect the cell density or growth rate of D. tertiolecta at concentrations ≤1000 g/L. Survival of P. pugio and F. heteroclitus were also unaffected at clofibric acid concentrations ≤1000 g/L. No significant changes occurred in the sublethal endpoints tested. This study determined that the rabbit polyclonal cytochrome P450 4A antibody cross reacts with Fundulus heteroclitus demonstrating that a CYP4A-like isoform is present in this teleost species and may be used in future induction studies. Clofibric acid, however, did not alter CYP4A levels in F. heteroclitus. The results of this study indicate low risk of adverse effects from environmental exposure to clofibric acid for the species tested. These research findings provide new information on the toxicity and sublethal effects of an important pharmaceutical. These data may benefit environmental managers when they are faced with decisions regarding the discharge of pharmaceutical chemicals into the environment.

Key words: ecotoxicity, pharmaceuticals, estuarine