In realistic environmental scenarios, soil organisms can be exposed to a combination of pharmaceuticals and agriproducts or within different time frames. Therefore, it is necessary to increase knowledge on soil organism susceptibility under a complex mixture exposure scenario. The present study aimed to assess the susceptibility of the collembolan Folsomia candida to copper and dimethoate on a pre-exposure for 3 generations to human pharmaceuticals (fluoxetine and carbamazepine). Carryover effects on reproductive output and survival were observed after a multigenerational pre-exposure to carbamazepine or fluoxetine, considerably increasing the sensitivity of collembolans to both copper and dimethoate. This was more evident for collembolans pre-exposed to the highest concentrations of both pharmaceuticals (40 mg/kg soil), as demonstrated by a significant reduction in the number of juveniles and increased mortality. In addition, pre-exposure to carbamazepine and fluoxetine induced varying effects on subsequent exposure to the same chemical. Although pre-exposure to carbamazepine led to a decrease in collembolan reproduction, even when transferred to a clean medium, fluoxetine induced severe effects but only when collembolans were exposed to other contaminants (i.e., not when transferred to clean soil). The present study highlighted the need to consider carryover effects and possible interactions between pharmaceuticals and other contaminants under simultaneous exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:592-600. © 2021 SETAC.
Keywords: Carbamazepine; Carryover effects; Copper; Dimethoate; Fluoxetine.
© 2021 SETAC.