Are irbesartan and losartan ecotoxic for free-living marine nematodes? Response elements from taxonomic and functional features

The Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA II) are primarily eliminated in domestic effluent and commonly observed in conventional wastewater from sewage plants and rivers that receive run-off from treatment facilities. Nevertheless, ARA II medications show low elimination efficiencies in municipal wastewater treatment facilities, suggesting possible harmful effects for aquatic life. In the current study, individual and combined treatments (187.5–900 ng/L) of two ARA II, losartan and irbesartan, were applied for one month to marine nematodes. The results highlighted significant decreases in the relative abundance of epistratum feeding groups, characterized by a spiral amphid shape, elongated/filiform tail shape, and c-p3 life history type, especially in the assemblages exposed to the highest concentrations and mixtures. The results also emphasized that losartan is more toxic compared to irbesartan, with antagonism interactions between both drugs. Another conclusion was that Longicyatholaimus longicaudatus and Marylynnia puncticaudata were sensitive to ARA II contamination, whereas the genera Theristus, Halalaimus, and Sabatieria species were tolerant.