Ecotoxicity of Entecavir in Aliivibrio fischeri, Microcystis novacekii, Artemia salina, and Biomphalaria glabrata

Abstract

The worldwide consumption of medicines has increased exponentially with a consequent increase of these pollutants in the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the ecotoxicity of entecavir (ETV), an antiviral used to treat hepatitis B, in models of Aliivibrio fischeri, Microcystis novacekii, Artemia salina, and Biomphalaria glabrata, which directly interferes with enzymatic processes and protein synthesis, possibly impacting the environment and human health. In the ecotoxicological tests, the organisms were exposed to ETV concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 mg/L at 30 min to 96 h intervals, depending on the model used. Only toxicity results at concentrations below 100 mg/L were considered environmentally relevant. Statistical analyses for the A. salina, M. novacekii, and B. glabrata models were conducted using dose–response regressions. Mortality in the B. glabrata model was assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. For the model with A. fischeri, the analyses were performed considering the mean bioluminescence values against the control (sample without ETV) on a logarithmic scale with the R² determination index as the reference for the fit under the standard Microtox procedure. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all analyses. None of the biological models exposed to ETV showed toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations (<100 mg/L). Although it may seem that ETV does not pose a risk to the environment due to its low ecotoxicological spectrum, given the lack of toxicity observed in the models tested and the nondetection of ETV in the environment, the rational use, disposal, treatment, and final disposal of pharmaceutical waste of this drug, the monitoring of pharmaceutical waste in sewage and water treatment systems and the improvement of these systems should be encouraged to mitigate possible environmental, economic, and health impacts.