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Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2021 Nov 29;41:100947. doi: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100947. Epub 2021 Nov 29.

Using metabolomic profiling to inform use of surrogate species in ecological risk assessment practices.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics

Roland F Seim, Donna A Glinski, Candice M Lavelle, Jill A Awkerman, Becky L Hemmer, Peggy Harris, Sandy Raimondo, Marcía N Snyder, Brad W Acrey, S Thomas Purucker, Denise K MacMillan, Amanda A Brennan, W Matthew Henderson

Affiliations

  1. Grantee to the U.S. EPA via Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
  2. NRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow to the U.S. EPA, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
  3. U.S. EPA, ORD, CEMM, GEMMD, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA.
  4. U.S. EPA, ORD, CEMM, EPD, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
  5. U.S. EPA, ORD, CCTE, GLTED, RTP, NC 27709, USA.
  6. U.S. EPA, ORD, CCTE, CCED, RTP, NC 27009, USA.
  7. U.S. EPA, ORD, CEMM, EPD, Athens, GA 30605, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 34894529 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100947

Abstract

The U.S. EPA frequently uses avian or fish toxicity data to set protective standards for amphibians in ecological risk assessments. However, this approach does not always adequately represent aquatic-dwelling and terrestrial-phase amphibian exposure data. For instance, it is accepted that early life stage tests for fish are typically sensitive enough to protect larval amphibians, however, metamorphosis from tadpole to a terrestrial-phase adult relies on endocrine cues that are less prevalent in fish but essential for amphibian life stage transitions. These differences suggest that more robust approaches are needed to adequately elucidate the impacts of pesticide exposure in amphibians across critical life stages. Therefore, in the current study, methodology is presented that can be applied to link the perturbations in the metabolomic response of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), a surrogate species frequently used in ecotoxicological studies, to those of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) tadpoles following exposure to three high-use pesticides, bifenthrin, chlorothalonil, or trifluralin. Generally, D. rerio exhibited greater metabolic perturbations in both number and magnitude across the pesticide exposures as opposed to X. laevis. This suggests that screening ecological risk assessment surrogate toxicity data would sufficiently protect amphibians at the single life stage studied but care needs to be taken to understand the suite of metabolic requirements of each developing species. Ultimately, methodology presented, and data gathered herein will help inform the applicability of metabolomic profiling in establishing the risk pesticide exposure poses to amphibians and potentially other non-target species.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Keywords: Amphibians; Ecological risk assessment; Metabolomics; Pesticides; Zebrafish

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