Exploring comprehensive toxic effects of fludioxonil on Caenorhabditis elegans

Fludioxonil is a phenylpyrrole fungicide widely used in agriculture. Despite its efficacy against target fungi, there have been concerns raised regarding the potential adverse effects on non-target organisms. This study assesses its toxicity effects on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) across physiological, cellular, neuronal, and behavioral dimensions. At the physiological level, fludioxonil significantly reduces the growth, lifespan, and reproductive capacity of C. elegans, indicating disruptive effects on overall organismal health. At the cellular level, fludioxonil elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can result in oxidative stress. At the neuronal level, fludioxonil induces dopaminergic neurodegeneration and upregulates critical neurotransmission genes dat-1 and unc-47, which affects the nervous system. At the behavioral level, C. elegans exposed to fludioxonil exhibits increased locomotion and abnormal behaviors. These findings collectively demonstrate that fludioxonil exerts multifaceted toxic effects on non-target organisms, challenging the assumption of its safety and suggesting significant implications for ecosystem health and safety regulations.