Developmental toxicity of endocrine disrupters bisphenol A and vinclozolin in a terrestrial isopod

Abstract

Studies of the effects of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) on invertebrates are still largely underrepresented. This work aims to fill this gap by assessing the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and vinclozolin (Vz) on the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (common rough woodlouse). Male adult and sexually undifferentiated juvenile woodlice were exposed to the toxicants. Effects on molting regime and growth were investigated independently for males and female woodlice after sexual differentiation. Both chemicals elicited developmental toxicity to P. scaber by causing overall decreased growth. Nevertheless, BPA induced molting, whereas Vz delayed it. Although the LC50 values for juvenile and adult survival were fairly similar, juvenile woodlice showed an increased chronic sensitivity to both chemicals, and female woodlice were most the sensitive to BPA. We recommend the use of adults, juveniles, female, and male woodlice, as well as a large range of toxicant concentrations, to provide valuable information regarding differential dose responses, effects, and threshold values for EDCs.

Fig. 1

Growth of adult male P. scaber after 10 week exposure to soil treated with a Vz and b BPA. Black bars represent size gain (final CW/initial CW), and grey bars represent mass gain (final weight/initial weight). * Significant difference from the control at p ≤ 0.05 (ANOVA, Dunnett’s test)

Fig. 2

Size gain over three consecutive molts of adult male P. scaber after exposure to BPA-contaminated soil. Results are shown as the quotient of the width of the middle segment after and before molt. * Significant difference from the solvent control at p ≤ 0.05 (ANOVA, Dunnett’s test)

Fig. 3

Distribution of first molt per week of juvenile P. scaber exposed to soil contaminated with Vz (left) and BPA (right). a and c Male woodlice. b and d Female woodlice. Data are presented as percentage of animals that molted during each period

Fig. 4

Number of molts of P. scaber juveniles during a 16-week period of exposure to soil treated with Vz. * Significant difference from the control at p ≤ 0.05 (ANOVA, Dunnett’s test)

Fig. 5

Growth of juvenile P. scaber exposed for a 16-week period to soil treated with Vz (left graphs) or BPA (right graphs). a and c Mass gain (final weight/initial weight). b and d Size gain (final CW/initial CW). * Significant difference from the control at p ≤ 0.05 (ANOVA, Dunnett’s test)