Early life developmental effects induced by dioxins and PCBs in novel bioassays with C. elegans

Cong Bao; Antoine Karengera; Jan Kammenga; Inez Dinkla; Willemien Wieland; Albertinka J. Murk

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2025.104697

Early life developmental effects induced by dioxins and PCBs in novel bioassays with C. elegans

Cong Bao, Antoine Karengera, Jan Kammenga, Inez Dinkla, Willemien Wieland, Albertinka J. Murk^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of TCDD, two PCB mixtures (Clophen A50 and Aroclor 1254), and field extracts from marine sediments and swimming crab tissues on early-life development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Gravid nematodes were exposed on agar, and isolated eggs and larvae were tested in solution. Larval development was evaluated after 72 hours. Reporter gene assays (DR-CALUX) were also used to quantify dioxin-equivalent toxicity (TEQ). Exposure to 10 pM Clophen A50 and TCDD on agar inhibited L3–L4 transition by 60 % and 50 %, respectively. Liquid exposure to 5 µM Aroclor 1254 or TCDD (10 nM and 10 µM) delayed development by 20–40 %. Field extracts contained TEQ values of 0.67–4.91 ng/kg (0.2–1.47 pM TCDD), reducing L3–L4 development by 40–60 %. Both bioassays effectively assessed the toxicity of persistent organic pollutants in environmental samples. Agar exposure mimics realistic uptake, while liquid assays offer faster, high-throughput screening.

Original language	English
Article number	104697
Journal	Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Volume	116
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2025.104697
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025

Keywords

Bioassays
C. elegans
Marine sediment
Persist-organic-pollutants
Swiming crab

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Early life developmental effects induced by dioxins and PCBs in novel bioassays with C. elegans",

abstract = "This study assessed the effects of TCDD, two PCB mixtures (Clophen A50 and Aroclor 1254), and field extracts from marine sediments and swimming crab tissues on early-life development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Gravid nematodes were exposed on agar, and isolated eggs and larvae were tested in solution. Larval development was evaluated after 72 hours. Reporter gene assays (DR-CALUX) were also used to quantify dioxin-equivalent toxicity (TEQ). Exposure to 10 pM Clophen A50 and TCDD on agar inhibited L3–L4 transition by 60 % and 50 %, respectively. Liquid exposure to 5 µM Aroclor 1254 or TCDD (10 nM and 10 µM) delayed development by 20–40 %. Field extracts contained TEQ values of 0.67–4.91 ng/kg (0.2–1.47 pM TCDD), reducing L3–L4 development by 40–60 %. Both bioassays effectively assessed the toxicity of persistent organic pollutants in environmental samples. Agar exposure mimics realistic uptake, while liquid assays offer faster, high-throughput screening.",

keywords = "Bioassays, C. elegans, Marine sediment, Persist-organic-pollutants, Swiming crab",

author = "Cong Bao and Antoine Karengera and Jan Kammenga and Inez Dinkla and Willemien Wieland and Murk, {Albertinka J.}",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1016/j.etap.2025.104697",

language = "English",

volume = "116",

journal = "Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology",

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T1 - Early life developmental effects induced by dioxins and PCBs in novel bioassays with C. elegans

AU - Bao, Cong

AU - Karengera, Antoine

AU - Kammenga, Jan

AU - Dinkla, Inez

AU - Wieland, Willemien

AU - Murk, Albertinka J.

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - This study assessed the effects of TCDD, two PCB mixtures (Clophen A50 and Aroclor 1254), and field extracts from marine sediments and swimming crab tissues on early-life development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Gravid nematodes were exposed on agar, and isolated eggs and larvae were tested in solution. Larval development was evaluated after 72 hours. Reporter gene assays (DR-CALUX) were also used to quantify dioxin-equivalent toxicity (TEQ). Exposure to 10 pM Clophen A50 and TCDD on agar inhibited L3–L4 transition by 60 % and 50 %, respectively. Liquid exposure to 5 µM Aroclor 1254 or TCDD (10 nM and 10 µM) delayed development by 20–40 %. Field extracts contained TEQ values of 0.67–4.91 ng/kg (0.2–1.47 pM TCDD), reducing L3–L4 development by 40–60 %. Both bioassays effectively assessed the toxicity of persistent organic pollutants in environmental samples. Agar exposure mimics realistic uptake, while liquid assays offer faster, high-throughput screening.

AB - This study assessed the effects of TCDD, two PCB mixtures (Clophen A50 and Aroclor 1254), and field extracts from marine sediments and swimming crab tissues on early-life development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Gravid nematodes were exposed on agar, and isolated eggs and larvae were tested in solution. Larval development was evaluated after 72 hours. Reporter gene assays (DR-CALUX) were also used to quantify dioxin-equivalent toxicity (TEQ). Exposure to 10 pM Clophen A50 and TCDD on agar inhibited L3–L4 transition by 60 % and 50 %, respectively. Liquid exposure to 5 µM Aroclor 1254 or TCDD (10 nM and 10 µM) delayed development by 20–40 %. Field extracts contained TEQ values of 0.67–4.91 ng/kg (0.2–1.47 pM TCDD), reducing L3–L4 development by 40–60 %. Both bioassays effectively assessed the toxicity of persistent organic pollutants in environmental samples. Agar exposure mimics realistic uptake, while liquid assays offer faster, high-throughput screening.

KW - Bioassays

KW - C. elegans

KW - Marine sediment

KW - Persist-organic-pollutants

KW - Swiming crab

U2 - 10.1016/j.etap.2025.104697

DO - 10.1016/j.etap.2025.104697

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105002838639

SN - 1382-6689

VL - 116

JO - Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

JF - Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

M1 - 104697

ER -

Early life developmental effects induced by dioxins and PCBs in novel bioassays with C. elegans

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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