Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4111

Acute toxicity and genotoxicity assessment of environmental contaminants using Artemia salina

Jelena Đorđević Aleksić orcid.org/0000-0003-1771-8353 ; University of Belgrade, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Luka Gačić ; University of Belgrade Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade, Serbiа
Margareta Kračun-Kolarević ; University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Jovana Jovanović Marić ; University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Branka Vuković-Gačić ; University of Belgrade Faculty of Biology, Centre for Genotoxicology and Ecogenotoxicology, Belgrade, Serbiа
Stoimir Kolarević ; University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

The widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and industrial pollutants in aquatic environments necessitates rapid screening tools capable of detecting hazards and adverse biological effects. In this study, we selected the nauplii of Artemia salina (brine shrimp) as a model to screen for the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of three cytostatics (5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and etoposide), one pesticide (glyphosate), one surfactant (benzalkonium chloride), and one antifouling agent (tributyltin chloride), all applied in graded concentrations for 24 and 48 h. Acute toxicity was quantified by determining median lethal concentrations (LC50), and the genotoxicity of cytostatics was assessed using the alkaline comet assay. All substances caused concentration and time-dependent mortality. Among cytostatics, cisplatin was the most toxic (48 h LC50≈35 μg/mL), followed by etoposide (~130 μg/mL), while 5-fluorouracil was the least toxic (>500 μg/mL). Tributyltin chloride showed the strongest effect among non-pharmaceuticals (0.55 μg/mL), followed by benzalkonium chloride (~7.5 μg/mL) and glyphosate (~43 μg/mL). Cytostatics induced concentration-dependent DNA damage, with etoposide exhibiting the highest tail intensity (~60 %). These findings demonstrate that A. salina is an effective model for early, cost-effective hazard screening and highlight the importance of including genotoxic endpoints, particularly when assessing chemicals with DNA-targeting mechanisms.

Keywords

5-fluorouracil; benzalkonium chloride; brine shrimp; cisplatin; comet assay; cytotoxicity; etoposide; glyphosate; LC50; tributyltin chloride

Hrčak ID:

348051

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/348051

Publication date:

19.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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