The present study was performed to determine the acute toxicity of sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and its sublethal effects on oxidative stress enzymes in benthic oligochaete worm Tubifex tubifex. The results showed that 96 h median lethal concentration (LC50) value of SLES for Tubifex tubifex is 21.68 mg/l. Moreover exposed worms showed abnormal behaviours including incremented erratic movement, mucus secretion, and decreased clumping tendency at acute level. Percentage of autotomy additionally increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the increasing dose of toxicant at 96 h exposure. Sublethal concentrations of SLES (10% and 30% of 96 h LC50 value) caused paramount alterations in the oxidative stress enzymes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) exhibited a striking initiatory increment followed by a resulting descending pattern. Moreover, during exposure times, catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased markedly with incrementing concentrations of SLES. However, the effects of sodium laureth sulfate on Tubifex tubifex were characterized and portrayed by the development of a correlation matrix and an integrated biomarker response (IBR) assessment. These results indicate that exposure to this anionic surfactant alters the survivability and behavioral response at acute level and modifies changes in oxidative stress enzymes at sublethal level in Tubifex tubifex.
Keywords: Acute toxicity; Integrated biomarker response; Oxidative stress; Sodium laureth sulfate.
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