RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) limits the impact of ibuprofen upon respiration by streambed biofilms in a sub-urban stream
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 718924
DO 10.1101/718924
A1 McClean, Peter
A1 Hunter, William Ross
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/03/31/718924.abstract
AB Pharmaceuticals compounds such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen and the artificial estrogen 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) are contaminants of emerging concern in freshwater systems. Globally, human pharmaceutical is growing by around ∼3 % per year, yet we know little about how interactions between different pharmaceuticals may affect aquatic ecosystems. Here we test how interactions between ibuprofen and 17α-ethynylestradiol affect the growth and respiration of streambed biofilms. We used contaminant exposure experiments to quantify how these compounds affected biofilm growth (biomass), respiration and gross primary production, both individually and in combination. Within our study, we found no effects of either ibuprofen or 17α-ethynylestradiol on biofilm biomass (using ash free dry mass as a proxy) or gross primary production. Ibuprofen significantly reduced biofilm respiration. However, concomitant exposure to 17α-ethynylestradiol counteracted the depressive effects ibuprofen upon biofilm metabolism. Our study, thus, demonstrates that interactions between pharmaceuticals in the environment may have complex effects upon microbial contributions to aquatic ecosystem functioning.