Evaluation of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of parabens in the zebrafish Danio rerio (Cypriniformes , Cyprinidae)

RAMOS MARIANELA; LO NOSTRO FABIANA; FLORES MANUEL; MARINO DAMIÁN

Montevideo

Congreso; SETAC Latin America 15th Biennial Meeting; 2023

Different personal care products (PCPs) such as creams, toothpastes, sunscreens, contain chemical agents to achieve their compositional stability, including preservatives, antimicrobials, and fragrances. As a bactericide of these formulations, the use of parabens is frequent. These compounds, classified as contaminants of emerging concern, reach the aquatic environment as a consequence of poor wastewater treatment, negatively affecting biota, bioaccumulating and generating estrogenic effects on it. Previous studies from our group have quantified them in urban rivers and streams (2.7 µg/L). The objective of this work was to determine the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of the methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-parabens (MePar, EtPar, PrPar, and ButPar) in the species Danio rerio (Zebrafish). After acclimatization of one week, a 96-hour to waterborne exposure in glass aquariums (T°25°C; light:dark 14:10) to each parabens (solution concentration 1 mg/L) under semi-static conditions with daily renewal of test solutions and one organism percontainer was performed. Before and after renewal, water samples were taken (n=5 for each compound and control group). After the exposure, bioconcentration in total homogenate of each specimen was analyzed using QuEChERS method. The obtained extracts were filtered and analyzed by LC-MS/MS (Waters Alliance-ESI-Quattro Premier XE). The results show that the BCF presented the following behavior: PrPar>ButPar>EtPar>MetPar, where the PrPar is the most bioconcentrated in the studied species. A different behavior of the parabens than expected is highlighted, since the bioconcentration was not directly proportional to the number of carbons present in the molecules. Possible mechanisms associated with its incorporation and elimination will be evaluated. It is concluded that these contaminants of emerging interest are being released into the environment with a high bioaccumulation potential in aquatic biota, negatively affecting biodiversity.