Acute and chronic effects of triclosan on the behavior, physiology, and multigenerational characteristics of the water flea Moina macrocopa

Triclosan, a chlorinated biphenyl ether is widely used in industrial products and cosmetics due to its antibiotic activity. Although relatively levels of triclosan have been detected in aquatic ecosystems, limited information is available regarding the acute and chronic impacts of triclosan on aquatic invertebrates, especially planktonic crustaceans. In this study, we analyzed the acute (24 h) and chronic (14 days exposure across three generations) effects of different concentrations of triclosan [1/10 of the no observed effect concentration (NOEC), the NOEC, and 1/10 of the LC50] calculated from the 24 h acute toxicity value, on the water flea Moina macrocopa. In the acute exposure experiment, the 1/10 LC50 value of triclosan significantly reduced survival, feeding rate, thoracic limb activity, heart activity, and acetylcholinesterase activity. In response to the 1/10 LC50 value, intracellular reactive oxygen species increased along with elevated levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione. Enzymatic activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were significantly increased by the 1/10 LC50 value, suggesting active protection of the antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress. Chronic exposure to the 1/10 NOEC and NOEC values revealed multigenerational adverse impacts of triclosan. The second generation was found to be the most sensitive to triclosan, as the NOEC value significantly reduced the survival rate, body length, and the number of neonates per brood, along with a delayed hatching period. Taken together, these results indicate that even sublethal levels of triclosan can have detrimental effects on the water flea population's maintenance through intergenerational toxicity.