Toxicity evaluation of copper, bisphenol A and nonylphenol using life cycle of free-living marine nematode, Prochromadorella sp.1

Abstract

We examined the toxicity of copper (Cu), bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) by using life cycle of marine nematode, Prochromadorella sp.1. Eggs of nematode were exposed to Cu (0.6 mg/L), BPA (4.56, 22.8 and 228 μg/L) and NP (4.4, 22 and 220 μg/L) for 14 days, and their body lengths at 9 day and generation times (days from hatching of F0 eggs to hatching of F1 eggs) were assessed. Body lengths of nematode exposed to Cu were approximately 30% shorter than those in the control groups and the generation times of nematode were prolonged to more than 7 days compared with those in control groups (6 days). No adverse effect was observed in nematode exposed to BPA and NP except for 228 μg/L of BPA group. Coefficient variations of average body length and generation time were less than 7% and 1% in nematode exposed to Cu, respectively. Thus, we concluded that this life cycle test could be applicable for assessing the toxicity of environmental pollutants.