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Effects of photoinduced toxicity of fluoranthene on amphibian embryos and larvae
Author(s) -
Hatch Audrey C.,
Burton G. Allen
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620170918
Subject(s) - amphibian , biology , larva , hatching , xenopus , leopard frog , toxicity , fluoranthene , african clawed frog , zoology , toxicology , salamander , ultraviolet light , ecology , chemistry , photochemistry , biochemistry , phenanthrene , organic chemistry , astrobiology , gene
Abstract Embryos and newly hatched larvae of three amphibian species, the spotted salamander ( Ambystoma maculatum ), the northern leopard frog ( Rana pipiens ), and the African clawed frog ( Xenopus laevis ), were exposed to fluoranthene and ultraviolet (UV) light in two scenarios. Embryos were exposed in a laboratory setting from an early developmental stage through hatching under artificial UV light, and newly hatched larvae were exposed outdoors in varying sunlight intensity levels. Outdoor exposures indicated greater sensitivity in the toxic response than did laboratory exposures. In the laboratory, mortality and malformation of X. laevis were the most sensitive indicators of exposure. Xenopus laevis was also the most sensitive species tested to the effects of UV light alone. Hatching success of R. pipiens was monitored outdoors and was not a useful predictive endpoint in the determination of photoinduced toxicity; however, newly hatched larvae were sensitive to the effects of photoinduced toxicity. Amybstoma maculatum and X. laevis larvae were affected by low (μg/L) concentrations of fluoranthene in sunlight. These findings suggest that low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could be acting synergistically with environmental factors such as UV light to place young amphibians at risk.