Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, 323000, Zhejiang, China.
Environ Pollut. 2024 Oct 1;358:124494. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124494. Epub 2024 Jul 3.
Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) are common chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) used in industry. They have been frequently detected together in aquatic environments and associated with various hazardous effects. However, the ecological risks of prolonged exposure to these OPFRs at environmentally relevant concentrations in non-model aquatic organisms remain unexplored. This study investigated the effects of long-term exposure (up to 25 days) to TCEP and TCPP on metamorphosis, hepatic antioxidants, and endocrine function in Polypedates megacephalus tadpoles. Exposure concentrations were set at 3, 30, and 90 μg/L for each substance, conducted independently and in equal-concentration combinations, with a control group included for comparison. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) method developed an optimal linear model for predicting the overall ecological risks of TCEP and TCPP to tadpoles in potential distribution areas of Polypedates species. Results showed that: (1) Exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TCEP and TCPP elicited variable adverse effects on tadpole metamorphosis time, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity and related gene expression, and endocrine-related gene expression, with their combined exposure exacerbating these effects. (2) The IBR value of TCEP was consistently greater than that of TCPP at each concentration, with an additive effect observed under their combined exposure. (3) The ecological risk of tadpoles exposed to the combined presence of TCEP and TCPP was highest in China's Taihu Lake and Vietnam's Hanoi than in other distribution locations. In summary, prolonged exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TCEP and TCPP presents potential ecological risks to amphibian tadpoles, offering insights for the development of policies and strategies to control TCEP and TCPP pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, the methodology employed in establishing the IBR prediction model provides a methodological framework for assessing the overall ecological risks of multiple OPFRs.
磷酸三（2-氯乙基）酯（TCEP）和磷酸三（1-氯-2-丙基）酯（TCPP）是工业中常用的两种常见的含氯有机磷阻燃剂（OPFRs）。它们经常在水生环境中被一起检测到，并与各种危险效应有关。然而，在非模式水生生物中，以环境相关浓度长时间暴露于这些 OPFRs 的生态风险仍未得到探索。本研究调查了长期暴露（长达 25 天）于 TCEP 和 TCPP 对大蹼铃蟾蝌蚪变态、肝抗氧化剂和内分泌功能的影响。暴露浓度分别设定为 3、30 和 90μg/L，每种物质独立进行，并进行等浓度组合，同时设置对照组进行比较。综合生物标志物响应（IBR）方法为预测 TCEP 和 TCPP 在大蹼铃蟾潜在分布区对蝌蚪的总体生态风险开发了一个最佳线性模型。结果表明：（1）暴露于环境相关浓度的 TCEP 和 TCPP 对蝌蚪变态时间、肝抗氧化酶活性和相关基因表达以及内分泌相关基因表达产生了不同的不利影响，其联合暴露加剧了这些影响。（2）在每个浓度下，TCEP 的 IBR 值均始终大于 TCPP，在联合暴露下观察到相加效应。（3）与 TCEP 和 TCPP 联合存在的暴露对中国太湖和越南河内的蝌蚪的生态风险最高，高于其他分布地点。总之，长期暴露于环境相关浓度的 TCEP 和 TCPP 对两栖类蝌蚪具有潜在的生态风险，为制定控制水生生态系统中 TCEP 和 TCPP 污染的政策和策略提供了参考。此外，建立 IBR 预测模型所采用的方法为评估多种 OPFRs 的总体生态风险提供了方法框架。
