|
(41-04) Zebrafish embryos exposed to brominated flame retardants. Carlsson, Gunnar*,1, Norrgren, Leif1, 1 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden ABSTRACT- During recent years, several different brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been detected in different compartments of the environment. These substances are originally added to textiles and electronic articles, but are now detected in sediment, fish, human blood, liver, adipose tissue and breast milk. The BFRs include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecan (HBCDD) and tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA). The impact of these substances on aquatic life are poorly investigated. The present study was based on a method described by Schulte and Nagel (1994), but slightly modified. Newly fertilised zebrafish (Danio rerio) eggs were exposed to a concentration series (0.001 to 1 mg/l) of BFRs in 96-well plates, with one egg in each well. After 24 and 48 hours a number of endpoints like coagulated egg, spontaneous movement, extension of tail, circulation and heart rate were recorded by observing the embryos in a stereo microscope. Additionally, hatching time were recorded for each embryo by using a time lap camera. For most of the tested substances, including BDE-47, no effects were found in the concentration range used. However, O-OH-BDE-47, a metabolite to BDE-47, was found to affect embryos in concentrations of 0.1 mg/l and higher. These results show the importance to include the effects of metabolites in calculating risks of chemicals. Key words: zebrafish, embryo, BFRs |
