Human activity is resulting in an increasing presence of environmental pollutants which
can have detrimental effects on living organisms, including humans. Illicit drug
concentrations of ecotoxicological relevance have been detected in the effluent of
wastewater treatment plants. From there they pass into surface, ground- and even
drinking water. The aim of this research is to elucidate possible toxic effects of three
illicit drugs – amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy) – on zebrafish
(Danio rerio) embryos. The testing of pure enantiomers and racemates of these drugs
was performed following OECD 236 (2013) test guidelines. Additionally, a preliminary
ethological essay consisting of movement tracking was performed after 96 hours of
exposure. No lethal or sublethal effects were observed after the 96-hour exposure to
tested substances at concentration ranging from 0,2 mg/L to 8,6 mg/L compared to
negative control. Thus, LC50 or EC50 values could not be determined for any of the
substances. No significant differences in the effect of R- and S-enantiomeres was
observed in comparison to the racemic mixtures, nor have there been differences in the
effects of lower and higher concentrations with the exception of the lethal effects of RMDMA at concentrations 0,7 mg/L and 6,5 mg/L after 96 hours of exposure. No
differences in the distance and speed of larvae after 96 hours of exposure were observed
in drug-treated larvae compared to negative control. To conclude, the results of our
study are not indicative of AMP, MAMP and MDMA having an acute toxic effect on
zebrafish embryos.
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