The organic UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP-3), widely used in the commercial formulations of sunscreens and personal care products, is considered an emerging pollutant and has been associated with several human and environmental health concerns. However, knowledge about their mode of action and ecotoxicity on aquatic biota is scarce. In this scenario, the objective of this work was to evaluate the genotoxic, mutagenic, and erythrotoxicity effects of BP-3 in the guppy Poecilia reticulata after acute exposure. Adult females of P. reticulata were exposed to three non-lethal and environmentally relevant concentrations of BP-3 (10, 100, and 1000 ng L-1) during 96 h of exposure, and the somatic parameter [Fulton condition factor (K)], genotoxicity (comet assay), mutagenicity [micronucleus (MN) and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENA) tests] and erythrotoxicity parameters (such as total cell area and nucleus-cytoplasmic ratio) were analyzed. Results showed that the general physiological condition (K value) of fish was not affected by acute exposure to BP-3. However, BP-3 induced DNA damage at 100 and 1000 ng L-1 and increased the frequency of total ENA at 1000 ng L-1, specially lobed nucleus, when compared to control group, indicating its genotoxic and mutagenic effects. Furthermore, the BP-3 did not induce significant changes in the total cell area and nucleus-cytoplasmic ratio. In summary, results showed that the BP-3 at environmentally relevant concentration was genotoxic to freshwater fish P. reticulata, confirming its environmental risk.
Keywords: Biomarkers; Comet assay; DNA damage; Ecotoxicology; Guppy; Micronuclei.
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