Metabolism and cytotoxicity of diphenylarsinic acid, a degradation product of sea-dumped chemical warfare agents, in a rainbow trout liver cell line

Recent studies have found primary degradation products of phenylarsenic chemical warfare agents (CWAs) accumulating in fish tissues, while the potential effects of these dumped phenylarsenic CWAs, such as Clark I and II, in the Baltic Sea biota are poorly understood. In this study, the metabolism and cytotoxicity of diphenylarsinic acid (DPA), a primary degradation product of phenylarsenic CWA, was studied by incubating rainbow trout cell line RTL-W1 cells in media with 100 mg/L DPA. Previously undescribed metabolites were identified by ultra -high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPHLC-HRMS). Moreover, the cytotoxicity of diphenylarsine glutathione conjugate (DPA-SG), the major metabolite of DPA, was studied. Cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated using the Neutral Red retention test (NRR), showing an IC50 value of 278 mg/L for DPA and 1.30 mg/L for DPA-SG, indicating that the glutathione (GSH) conjugate of DPA is more than two orders of magnitude toxic than DPA itself, suggesting that toxic properties of DPA are increased after conjugation with intracellular GSH leading enhanced toxicity after uptake. Results gained in this study give more detailed information for elucidating biological effects of dumped chemical munitions in marine environment. Moreover, the results help in assessing the environmental and health risks posed by marine munition continued presence and deterioration in the sea bottom.

Automated summary

This study investigated the metabolism and cytotoxicity of diphenylarsinic acid (DPA) and its major metabolite, diphenylarsine glutathione conjugate (DPA-SG), finding that DPA-SG is significantly more toxic than DPA itself. Results provide insights into the biological effects of dumped chemical munitions in marine environments and help assess the environmental and health risks associated with the continued presence and deterioration of marine munitions at the sea bottom.