Effects of UVC-Irradiated Leanness-Enhancing Agents on Daphnia magna

Effects of UVC-Irradiated Leanness-Enhancing Agents on Daphnia magna

In this study, the potential impact of leanness-enhancing agents on the aquatic environment was investigated. The effects of UVC-irradiated ractopamine and clenbuterol on growth, reproduction, and embryonic development of laboratory batches of Daphnia magna were examined. UVC irradiation simulated the effect of sunlight on these chemical substances. Adverse effects of ractopamine on the embryos of daphnids occurred mainly within the first 24 h, and intensified from 24 to 48 h. Clenbuterol showed no acute toxic effect on embryos of or young daphnids within 48 h. While ractopamine demonstrated more significant adverse effects on daphnids than clenbuterol, opposing results were observed after UVC irradiation. Chronic toxicity test revealed that β-agonists induce teratogenic effects on daphnids following 72 h exposure. The effects of UVC-irradiated ractopamine on gravid daphnids were less marked than those of non-irradiated ractopamine. Opposing results were observed for clenbuterol. Maternal abnormality, embryo retardation, and offspring fatality rate in gravid daphnids increased and embryo hatch rate decreased, with prolonged UVC irradiation and higher concentrations of clenbuterol. The mechanism of the biological effects of UVC irradiation on β-agonists merits further investigation.