TitleDevelopmental toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to uranium: A comparison with lead, cadmium, and iron.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsShankar, P, Dashner-Titus, EJ, Truong, L, Hayward, K, Hudson, LG, Tanguay, RL
JournalEnviron Pollut
Volume269
Pagination116097
Date Published2021 Jan 15
ISSN1873-6424
KeywordsAnimals, Cadmium, Child, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Humans, Iron, Larva, Uranium, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Zebrafish
Abstract

Populations of plants and animals, including humans, living in close proximity to abandoned uranium mine sites are vulnerable to uranium exposure through drainage into nearby waterways, soil accumulation, and blowing dust from surface soils. Little is known about how the environmental impact of uranium exposure alters the health of human populations in proximity to mine sites, so we used developmental zebrafish (Danio rerio) to investigate uranium toxicity. Fish are a sensitive target for modeling uranium toxicity, and previous studies report altered reproductive capacity, enhanced DNA damage, and gene expression changes in fish exposed to uranium. In our study, dechorionated zebrafish embryos were exposed to a concentration range of uranyl acetate (UA) from 0 to 3000 μg/L for body burden measurements and developmental toxicity assessments. Uranium was taken up in a concentration-dependent manner by 48 and 120 h post fertilization (hpf)-zebrafish without evidence of bioaccumulation. Exposure to UA was not associated with teratogenic outcomes or 24 hpf behavioral effects, but larvae at 120 hpf exhibited a significant hypoactive photomotor response associated with exposure to 3 μg/L UA which suggested potential neurotoxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first time that uranium has been associated with behavioral effects in an aquatic organism. These results were compared to potential metal co-contaminants using the same exposure paradigm. Similar to uranium exposure, lead, cadmium, and iron significantly altered neurobehavioral outcomes in 120-hpf zebrafish without inducing significant teratogenicity. Our study informs concerns about the potential impacts of developmental exposure to uranium on childhood neurobehavioral outcomes. This work also sets the stage for future, environmentally relevant metal mixture studies. Summary Uranium exposure to developing zebrafish causes hypoactive larval swimming behavior similar to the effect of other commonly occurring metals in uranium mine sites. This is the first time that uranium exposure has been associated with altered neurobehavioral effects in any aquatic organism.

DOI10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116097
Alternate JournalEnviron Pollut
PubMed ID33246768
PubMed Central IDPMC7785642
Grant ListP30 CA118100 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30 ES030287 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES016465 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES025589 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States