Acute and chronic ecotoxicological effects of four pharmaceuticals drugs on cladoceran Daphnia magna

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has received increasing attention in recent years, as concerns have risen about their environmental persistence, biological activity and different effects toward nontarget organisms. Considering the magnitude of concentrations (ngL(-1) to mgL(-1)) and their often-specific modes of action, the assessment of physiological responses of exposed aquatic biota may provide significant information regarding the potential ecological consequences of exposure to these contaminants. The present study intended to assess the acute and chronic effects of four pharmaceuticals: acetaminophen, chlorpromazine, diclofenac sodium and propranolol in the cladoceran species Daphnia magna. Parameters such as immobility, total of offspring and rate of population increase were analyzed. Results of acute exposures showed a considerable variability of toxicity among pharmaceuticals, with the following ranking of toxicity: diclofenac (EC(50=)123.3mgL(-1))