Chronic effects of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on reproduction in the American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) over one complete life cycle.

Understanding the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has become very important in the field of aquatic toxicology. Hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) is an amphiphilic, toroidal shaped molecule with the ability to form noncovalent inclusion complexes with a variety of guest molecules. The molecule can reduce volatility as well as improve the aqueous solubility of apolar guest compounds and is an emerging PPCP. As such, HPβCD is the active ingredient in Febreze (Procter & Gamble) and is extensively used as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry. With the potential for entering the environment through waste-water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, HPβCD poses an unknown risk to nontarget aquatic biota. A 145-d chronic full life-cycle exposure using American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) was completed using flow-through nominal concentrations of 0 µg/L (control), 5 µg/L, 16 µg/L, 50 µg/L, 160 µg/L, 500 µg/L, and 1600 μg/L of HPβCD maintained via a peristaltic pump. Fecundity, growth, and liver somatic index were all monitored, and no significant difference was found between treatments and controls (p > 0.05). However, a significant increase in the gonadosomatic index was observed in females exposed to HPβCD (p ≤ 0.05). Reduced offspring growth was observed after exposure in the same manner as the parental generation (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, an acute copper toxicity challenge assay was conducted on second-generation flagfish larvae, and a decrease in copper tolerance was observed in larval progeny from parents exposed to HPβCD. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1358-1363. © 2015 SETAC.