Effects of gadolinium (Gd) and a Gd-based contrast agent (GBCA) on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Stefania Piarulli; Juliane A Riedel; Frida N Fossum; Florence Kermen; Bjørn Henrik Hansen; Bjarne Kvæstad; Pål A Olsvik; Julia Farkas

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140950

Effects of gadolinium (Gd) and a Gd-based contrast agent (GBCA) on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Chemosphere. 2024 Feb:350:140950. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140950. Epub 2023 Dec 17.

Authors

Stefania Piarulli¹, Juliane A Riedel², Frida N Fossum³, Florence Kermen⁴, Bjørn Henrik Hansen⁵, Bjarne Kvæstad⁶, Pål A Olsvik², Julia Farkas⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Climate and Environment, SINTEF Ocean, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: stefania.piarulli@sintef.no.
² Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026, Bodø, Norway.
³ Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
⁴ Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3b, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Climate and Environment, SINTEF Ocean, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway.
⁶ Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway.
⁷ Department of Climate and Environment, SINTEF Ocean, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: julia.farkas@sintef.no.

PMID: 38114019
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140950

Abstract

Gadolinium (Gd) is one of the rare earth elements (REY) and is widely used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Anthropogenic Gd enrichment has frequently been found in wastewater treatment plant effluents in industrialised countries, rising concerns regarding effects on aquatic biota. This study investigates the acute toxicity and sublethal effects of Gd in two forms, as inorganic salt (GdCl₃) and as Gd-based contrast agent (GBCA), on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Nominal exposure concentrations ranged from 3 to 3000 μg L^-1, with an exposure duration of 96 h. None of the two tested compounds were acutely toxic to embryos and larvae. Similarly, we did not observe any effects on larval development and locomotive behaviour. However, we found significant changes in the brain activity of larvae exposed to the highest concentrations of GdCl₃ and the GBCA. Our findings show that Gd can have sublethal effects on developing fish at lower concentrations than reported previously, highlighting the necessity of investigating the long-term fate and effects of GBCAs released into the aquatic environment.

Keywords: Ecotoxicity; Embryotoxicity; Fish; Neurotoxicity; REE; Rare earth elements.

MeSH terms

Animals
Contrast Media / toxicity
Gadolinium / toxicity
Gadolinium DTPA
Larva
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Metals, Rare Earth*
Perciformes*
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity
Zebrafish

Substances

Contrast Media
Gadolinium
Metals, Rare Earth
Gadolinium DTPA
Water Pollutants, Chemical