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Long‐term exposure to environmentally relevant doses of methyl‐ tert ‐butyl ether causes significant reproductive dysfunction in the zebrafish ( Danio rerio )
Author(s) -
Moreels David,
van Cauwenberghe Karen,
Debaere Bruno,
Rurangwa Eugène,
Vromant Nico,
Bastiaens Leen,
Diels Ludo,
Springael Dirk,
Merckx Roel,
Ollevier Frans
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1897/05-054r1.1
Subject(s) - danio , zebrafish , diphenyl ether , toxicology , term (time) , environmental chemistry , reproductive toxicity , chemistry , ether , biology , toxicity , medicine , physiology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene , physics , quantum mechanics
Methyl‐ tert ‐butyl ether (MTBE), an anthropogenic chemical used as a gasoline additive, is being detected at an increasing frequency in the environment. The acute lethal concentration that kills 50% of the fish test population and the chronic effects of exposure to MTBE were investigated in the zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). Chronic exposure over three weeks to effective MTBE concentrations as low as 0.11 mg/L induced a significant increase in the vitellogenin concentration of male fish. The impact of a chronic, eight‐week exposure at effective concentrations ranging from 0.44 to 220 mg/L had no significant effect on fecundity, fertilization, or hatch rate but highly significant impacts on sperm motility. Spermatozoa of all MTBE‐exposure groups showed a significantly lower straight‐line velocity and lower average path velocity compared to those of the nonexposed group. These results suggest that chronic exposure to MTBE negatively affects fish sperm motility at concentrations that are environmentally relevant and several orders of magnitude lower than concentrations inducing acute effects.