Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment (생태와환경)

The Korean Society of Limnology (한국수생태학회)
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Acute Toxicity Assessment of Mixed Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Environments Using Daphnia magna

물벼룩(Daphnia magna)을 이용한 수계 내 혼합의약물질 급성독성평가

  • Sehyeon Kim (Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Jihyun Kim (Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Kwonseob Lee (Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Seongjun Kim (Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University)
  • 김세현 (전남대학교 환경에너지공학과) ;
  • 김지현 (전남대학교 환경에너지공학과) ;
  • 이권섭 (전남대학교 환경에너지공학과) ;
  • 김성준 (전남대학교 환경에너지공학과)
  • Received : 2024.12.08
  • Accepted : 2024.12.30
  • Published : 2024.12.31
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Abstract

This study conducted an acute toxicity assessment using Daphnia magna to evaluate the potential for increased toxicity when pharmaceuticals persist in aquatic environments not as single substances but in mixed forms. In single-substance toxicity tests, the antibiotics clarithromycin and sulfamethoxazole showed EC50 values of 22.3 mg L-1 and 61.05 mg L-1, respectively. However, the EC50 for the mixture of the two substances was determined to be 31.1 mg L-1. Based on these findings, applying the Similar Mode of Action (MOA) equation from the QSAR Toolbox, as recommended by OECD non-testing methods, produced an estimated EC50 of 33.7 mg L-1 for the mixture, showing a difference of 8.5% compared to the experimental value. This study confirms that combined exposure to pharmaceuticals can increase toxicity due to synergistic effects, indicating a significant potential risk to aquatic ecosystems. According to the UN-GHS classification criteria, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and their mixture were all classified as Category 3, indicating potential toxicity to aquatic organisms. These results emphasize the importance of toxicity assessments that consider interactions between multiple contaminants in real environmental settings, contributing to the development of effective toxicity evaluation and management strategies for the protection of aquatic ecosystems.

본 연구에서 수계 내 잔류하는 의약물질이 단일물질이 아닌 혼합된 형태로 존재할 때의 독성 상승 가능성을 평가하기 위해, 물벼룩(Daphnia magna)을 이용한 급성독성평가를 수행하였다. 실험에 사용된 항생제 Clarithromycin과 Sulfamethoxazole의 단일 독성평가 결과, 각각의 EC50 값은 22.3 mg L-1와 61.05 mg L-1로 확인되었다. 두 물질을 혼합한 상태에서 측정된 EC50 값은 31.1 mg L-1로 나타났다. 이를 바탕으로 OECD에서 제공하는 비시험 방법 QSAR Toolbox의 Similar Mode of Action (MOA) 계산식을 적용한 결과, 혼합물의 EC50 값은 33.7 mg L-1로 산출되었고, 실제 실험값에 비해 8.5% 높게 확인되었다. 의약물질 혼합 시 상승작용으로 인해 급성독성이 증가할 수 있음이 확인되었으며, 수생 생태계에 잠재적인 위해성을 초래할 가능성이 크다. UN-GHS 환경 유해성 분류 기준에 따라 Clarithromycin, Sulfamethoxazole, 혼합물은 모두 Category 3으로 분류되었고, 해당 물질들이 수생생물에 잠재적 독성을 나타낼 수 있음을 의미한다. 연구 결과는 실제 환경에서 다중 오염물질의 상호작용을 고려한 독성평가의 중요성을 강조하며, 수계 생태계 보호를 위한 독성평가 및 관리 전략 수립에 기여할 수 있다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 2024년도 환경부 주관 「화학물질 안전관리 전문 인력 양성사업」의 화학물질 특성화대학원 지원 사업을 통한 성과물임을 밝힙니다.

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