Toxicity of Bisphenol a During the Early Life Stages of Chalcalburnus Tarichi (Pallas, 1811)

Abstract

In this study fertilized eggs, and larvae of Chalcalburnus tarichi were exposed to bisphenol A, an endocrine-disrupting chemical, to determine its toxic effects. A semistatic test procedure was followed to investigate the effects of the bisphenol A at concentrations of 0.75, 1.50, 3.00, 6.00, 12.00, 24.00, and 48.00 mg/L. The 96 hours median lethal concentration level for the eggs was determined as 3.96 mg/L. The hatching rates of the control and bisphenol A-treated groups were 80.3%, 12.0%, 3.4%, 1.5%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.0%, and 0.0%, respectively. The 96 h median lethal concentration level for the larvae was determined as 3.52 mg/L. The observed deformities in the larvae included slowed heart rate and blood circulation, developmental arrest, regressed swim bladder formation, cardiac edema, lordosis, hemorrhage, organ hypertrophy, delayed yolk sac withdrawal, and regression in the pigmentation. On the other hand, effect of sublethal concentrations of bisphenol A on the antioxidant defense system in the larvae of Chalcalburnus tarichi was investigated until yolk sac withdrawal. The results revealed that the malondialdehyde content and glutathione reductase activity increased at 0.75 and 1.50 mg/L of bisphenol A and returned to the control levels at 3.00 mg/L. The superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content was significantly reduced. The glutathione peroxidase activity was elevated only at 0.75 mg/L of bisphenol A. The glutathione-S-transferase activities and catalase activities did not alter. It was concluded that bisphenol A was a toxic substance for the fish fertilized eggs and larvae and changes antioxidant defense.