Chronic effects of hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin on reproduction in the American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) over one complete life cycle.

Understanding the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has become very important in the field of aquatic toxicology. Hydroxylpropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPßCD) is an amphiphilic, toroidal shaped molecule with the ability to form noncovalent inclusion complexes with a variety of guest molecules. The molecule can reduce volatility as well as improve the aqueous solubility of apolar guest compounds and is an emerging PPCP. As such, HPßCD is the active ingredient in Febreze (Procter & Gamble) and is extensively used as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry. With the potential for entering the environment through waste-water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, HPßCD poses an unknown risk to nontarget aquatic biota. A 145-d chronic full life-cycle exposure using American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) was completed using flow-through nominal concentrations of 0 µg/L (control), 5 µg/L, 16 µg/L, 50 µg/L, 160 µg/L, 500 µg/L, and 1600 µg/L of HPßCD maintained via a peristaltic pump. Fecundity, growth, and liver somatic index were all monitored, and no significant difference was found between treatments and controls (p > 0.05). However, a significant increase in the gonadosomatic index was observed in females exposed to HPßCD (p ≤ 0.05). Reduced offspring growth was observed after exposure in the same manner as the parental generation (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, an acute copper toxicity challenge assay was conducted on second-generation flagfish larvae, and a decrease in copper tolerance was observed in larval progeny from parents exposed to HPßCD. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1358-1363. © 2015 SETAC.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products: A critical review of the impacts on fish reproduction.

Research in environmental toxicology involving pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has increased greatly over the last 10-15 years. Much research has been focused on the endocrine-disrupting potential of PPCPs, as they relate to negative population impacts of aquatic organisms. This review assesses the current data on the reported effects of PPCPs on fish reproduction with an emphasis on fecundity, a predictor of population effects. Studies of both individual PPCPs and PPCP mixtures are presented. As the majority of individual PPCP studies reviewed demonstrate negative effects on fish fecundity, we relate these findings to detected surface water concentrations of these compounds. Very few studies involving PPCP mixtures have been conducted; however, the need for these types of studies is warranted as fish are most likely exposed to mixtures of PPCPs in the wild. In addition, laboratory and field assessments of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, a major source of PPCPs, are reviewed. Much of the data provided from these assessments are variable and do not generally demonstrate negative impacts on reproduction, or the studies are unable to directly associate observed effects with WWTP effluents. Finally, future research considerations are outlined to provide an avenue into understanding how wild populations of fish are affected by PPCPs. These considerations are aimed at determining the adaptation potential of fish exposed to mixtures of PPCPs over multiple generations. As global use of PPCPs continually rises, the need to discern the effects of chronic exposure to PPCPs is greatly increased.