Arsenic (III, V), indium (III), and gallium (III) toxicity to zebrafish embryos using a high-throughput multi-endpoint in vivo developmental and behavioral assay.

TitleArsenic (III, V), indium (III), and gallium (III) toxicity to zebrafish embryos using a high-throughput multi-endpoint in vivo developmental and behavioral assay.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsOlivares, CI, Field, JA, Simonich, MT, Tanguay, RL, Sierra-Alvarez, R
JournalChemosphere
Volume148
Pagination361-8
Date Published2016 Apr
ISSN1879-1298
KeywordsAnimals, Arsenates, Arsenites, Behavior, Animal, Ecotoxicology, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Embryonic Development, Endpoint Determination, Gallium, High-Throughput Screening Assays, Indium, Zebrafish
Abstract

Gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and other III/V materials are finding increasing application in microelectronic components. The rising demand for III/V-based products is leading to increasing generation of effluents containing ionic species of gallium, indium, and arsenic. The ecotoxicological hazard potential of these streams is unknown. While the toxicology of arsenic is comprehensive, much less is known about the effects of In(III) and Ga(III). The embryonic zebrafish was evaluated for mortality, developmental abnormalities, and photomotor response (PMR) behavior changes associated with exposure to As(III), As(V), Ga(III), and In(III). The As(III) lowest observable effect level (LOEL) for mortality was 500 μM at 24 and 120 h post fertilization (hpf). As(V) exposure was associated with significant mortality at 63 μM. The Ga(III)-citrate LOEL was 113 μM at 24 and 120 hpf. There was no association of significant mortality over the tested range of In(III)-citrate (56-900 μM) or sodium citrate (213-3400 μM) exposures. Only As(V) resulted in significant developmental abnormalities with LOEL of 500 μM. Removal of the chorion prior to As(III) and As(V) exposure was associated with increased incidence of mortality and developmental abnormality suggesting that the chorion may normally attenuate mass uptake of these metals by the embryo. Finally, As(III), As(V), and In(III) caused PMR hypoactivity (49-69% of control PMR) at 900-1000 μM. Overall, our results represent the first characterization of multidimensional toxicity effects of III/V ions in zebrafish embryos helping to fill a significant knowledge gap, particularly in Ga(III) and In(III) toxicology.

DOI10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.01.050
Alternate JournalChemosphere
PubMed ID26824274
PubMed Central IDPMC4754138
Grant ListP30 ES000210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES004940 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES016465 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES04940 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States