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Diclofenac: New data on chronic toxicity and bioconcentration in fish
Ulrich Memmert1, Armin Peither, Roland Burri
1Eurofins Regulatory, Rheinfelden, Switzerland.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|January 18, 2013
Summary
Diclofenac (DCF) does not pose a significant risk to fish populations in European rivers. Aquatic risk assessments show no adverse effects on rainbow trout and zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Aquatic risk assessment
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Diclofenac (DCF) is a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug frequently found in surface waters.
- Understanding the aquatic toxicity of DCF is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the aquatic risk of Diclofenac (DCF) to early life stages of rainbow trout and zebrafish.
- To determine the No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) for DCF in fish species.
Main Methods:
- Conducted OECD 210 guideline early life stage (ELS) tests on rainbow trout and zebrafish.
- Examined population-relevant endpoints: hatching, growth, survival, and histopathology.
- Measured DCF bioconcentration in rainbow trout using OECD 305 guideline.
Main Results:
- The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of DCF in rainbow trout was below 10, indicating no significant bioaccumulation.
- The NOEC for rainbow trout, including histopathology, was 320 µg/L.
- The NOEC for zebrafish growth was determined to be 10 µg/L, with higher concentrations showing non-repeatable effects.
Conclusions:
- Diclofenac (DCF) demonstrated no probable adverse effects on rainbow trout and zebrafish at concentrations up to 320 µg/L.
- The established NOEC values provide a sufficient safety margin for fish populations given typical environmental concentrations.
- DCF poses a low risk to aquatic ecosystems.
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