Environmental risks to freshwater organisms from the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone using Species Sensitivity Distributions

In this study, laboratory experiments have addressed the acute toxicity of two common mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON), in a range freshwater organisms (including rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus, insects Chironomus riparius (larvae), crustaceans Daphnia pulex Thamnocephalus platyurus, cnidarians Hydra vulgaris, molluscs Lymnaea stagnalis (embryos) Protozoa Tetrahymena thermophila). Acute EC50 values highlight as most sensitive to DON, with T. platyurus having 24 h 0.14 D. magna 48 0.13 mg DON/L. During exposures ZON, H. vulgaris L. embryos showed highest sensitivity; mortality were 1.1 (96 h) 0.42 ZON/L (7 d), respectively. Combining these novel invertebrate results, along recent published data for plant fish analysis Species Sensitivity Distributions, provides HC5 5.2 μg DON/L 43 ZON/L, Using reported environmental concentrations following REACH guidelines, risk ratios calculated here show ZON is low. contrast, DON may periodically because concern streams subject high agricultural run-off, likely during certain times year where cereal crops are susceptible higher fungal infections rates pose increased risks due climate change.