The antimicrobial agents triclocarban and triclosan as potent modulators of reproduction in Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Mollusca: Hydrobiidae)

In this study, we assessed the chronic effects of the two antimicrobial substances triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) on reproduction of a mollusk species by using the reproduction test with the New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum. Snails coming from a laboratory culture were exposed for 28days to nominal concentrations ranging from 0.1 up to 10 mu g/L for both chemicals (measured 0.082-8.85 mu g TCC/L; 0.068-6.26 mu g TCS/L). At the end of the experiment, snails were dissected and embryos in the brood pouch were counted to assess the individualized reproductive success of adult snails. Exposure to TCC resulted in an inverted u-shaped concentration-response relationship, with a stimulation of reproduction at low concentrations followed by an inhibition at higher concentrations. The no observed effect concentration (NOEC) and the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) were 0.082 and 0.287 mu g/L, respectively. TCS caused significantly increased embryo numbers at all tested concentrations, except in the group of 0.170 mu g/L. Therefore, the NOEC for TCS was 0.170 mu g/L and the LOEC was 0.660 mu g/L. These results indicate that TCC and TCS may cause reproductive effects at environmentally relevant concentrations indicating a potential risk for aquatic organisms in the environment.