Toxicidade crônica, embriotoxicidade e análise de risco ambiental de antivirais

Abstract

Antiviral drugs are class of medications used to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viral infections. Due to their wide use in developing countries, these compounds have already been reported in several aquatic environments, while data on the risk they may pose to non-target species are scarce.This study aims to evaluate the environmental risk of antivirals and their chronic effects using two species of aquatic organisms, in addition to investigating the embryotoxicity to Daphnia similis. The results with R. subcapitata showed the following toxicities: zidovudine (CI50 = 5.442 mg L-1) < acyclovir (CI50 = 3.612 mg L-1) < lamivudine (CI50 = 3.013 mg L-1) < efavirenz (CI50 = 0.034 mg L-1). The results of the chronic bioassay with C. dubia demonstrated that zidovudine is the least toxic (CE50 = 5.671 mg L-1), followed by acyclovir (CE50 = 3.062 mg L-1), lamivudine (CE50 = 1.345 mg L-1) and efavirenz (CE50 = 0.026 mg L-1). Both species have been shown to be sensitive to efavirenz. A risk quotient (RQ) was calculated, and efavirenz had an RQ greater than 1 for both species, and lamivudine had an RQ greater than 1 for C. dubia, representing a high ecological risk for these organisms. Subsequently, a risk assessment was performed for antiviral mixtures identified as presenting relatively high risks to aquatic organisms. The results of the embryotoxicity assay of the four antivirals revealed that these drugs induced various abnormalities such as interruption of embryonic development and abnormalities in the carapace, antennae and caudal spine. The Daphnia embryo model was considered adequate to assess toxicity during embryonic development, which may compromise the survival of species in environments with the presence of antivirals. Antivirals pose a significant environmental risk to aquatic organisms and must be taken into account in future monitoring of water bodies.