Ecotoxicological Effects of the Anionic Surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) in Two Marine Primary Producers: <em>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</em> and <em>Ulva lactuca</em>
Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho,
Eduardo Feijão,
Ana Rita Matos,
Maria Teresa Cabrita,
Andrei B. Utkin,
Sara C. Novais,
Marco F. L. Lemos,
Isabel Caçador,
João Carlos Marques,
Patrick Reis-Santos,
Vanessa F. Fonseca,
Bernardo Duarte
Affiliations
Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Eduardo Feijão
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Rita Matos
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria Teresa Cabrita
Centro de Estudos Geográficos (CEG), Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território (IGOT), Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Branca Edmée Marques, 1600-276 Lisboa, Portugal
Andrei B. Utkin
INOV-INESC, Rua Alves Redol 9, 1000-029 Lisboa, Portugal
Sara C. Novais
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal
Marco F. L. Lemos
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal
Isabel Caçador
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
João Carlos Marques
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal
Patrick Reis-Santos
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Vanessa F. Fonseca
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Bernardo Duarte
MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET–Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) is an anionic surfactant, extensively used in detergents, household and personal care products, as well as in industrial processes. The present study aimed to disclose the potential toxicological effects of SDS exposure under environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 3, and 10 mg L−1) on the physiology and biochemistry (photosynthesis, pigment, and lipid composition, antioxidative systems, and energy balance) of two marine autotrophs: the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the macroalgae Ulva lactuca. A growth rate (GR) reduction in P. tricornutum was observed with a classic dose-response effect towards the highest applied concentration, while a GR increase occurred in U. lactuca. Regarding photochemistry, the decrease in the fluorescence of the OJIP curves and laser-induced fluorescence allowed a better separation between SDS treatments in U. lactuca compared with P. tricornutum. Although all pigments significantly decreased in U. lactuca at the highest concentrations (except for antheraxanthin), no significant variations occurred in P. tricornutum. On the other hand, changes in fatty acid content were observed in P. tricornutum but not in U. lactuca. In terms of classical biomarker assessment, a dose-effect relationship of individual biomarkers versus SDS dose applied; U. lactuca displayed a higher number of biomarker candidates, including those in distinct metabolic pathways, increasing its usefulness for ecotoxicological applications. By evaluating the potential application of optical and biochemical traits, it was evident that the fatty acid profiles of the different exposure groups are excellent candidates in P. tricornutum, concomitant with the characteristics of this anionic surfactant. On the other hand, the results presented by laser-induced fluorescence and some parameters of PAM fluorometry in U. lactuca may be an advantage in the field, offering non-invasive, fast, easy-to-use, high-throughput screening techniques as excellent tools for ecotoxicology assessment.
