Home alone—The effects of isolation on uptake of a pharmaceutical contaminant in a social fish

Abstract

A wide range of biologically active pharmaceutical residues is present in aquatic systems worldwide. As uptake potential and the risk of effects in aquatic wildlife are directly coupled, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between stress by isolation, uptake and effects of the psychiatric pharmaceutical oxazepam in fish. To do this, we measured cortisol levels, behavioral stress responses, and oxazepam uptake under different stress and social conditions, in juvenile perch (Percafluviatilis) that were either exposed (1.03 mu gl(-1)) or not exposed to oxazepam. We found single exposed individuals to take up more oxazepam than individuals exposed in groups, likely as a result of stress caused by isolation. Furthermore, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) was significantly negatively correlated with fish weight in both social treatments. We found no effect of oxazepam exposure on body cortisol concentration or behavioral stress response. Most laboratory experiments, including standardized bioconcentration assays, are designed to minimize stress for the test organisms, however wild animals experience stress naturally. Hence, differences in stress levels between laboratory and natural environments can be one of the reasons why predictions from artificial laboratory experiments largely underestimate uptake of oxazepam, and other pharmaceuticals, in the wild. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Bioconcentration; Brain concentration; Isolation; Pharmaceutical pollution; Shoaling; Stress mediated uptake

Published in

Aquatic Toxicology
2016, volume: 180, pages: 71-77
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Heynen, Martina

  • Umeå University

• Backström, Tobias

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jonsson, Micael

  • Umeå University

• Klaminder, Jonatan

  • Umeå University

• Brodin, Tomas

  • Umeå University

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG14 Life below water

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.09.004

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/82962