Chronic effects of the veterinary antibiotic florfenicol in lab-exposed embryo-larval fathead minnows

Chronic effects of the veterinary antibiotic florfenicol in lab-exposed embryo-larval fathead minnows Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat bacterial diseases in farmed animals including fish, cows, and pigs. Concentrations of up to 3.4 micrograms per liter (µg/L) have been detected in waterways downstream of farming activities. This study examined the toxicity effects of various concentrations of florfenicol on the embryo-larval stage of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Fathead minnows were exposed to the antibiotic from zero (0) days post fertilization (dpf) to sixteen (16) days post hatch (dph). Endpoints measured include hatch success, time to hatch, deformities at hatch, survival and growth. Measurements were taken at nine (9) dph and sixteen (16) dph. There were no significant differences found for any of the parameters between the control and the treatment groups. A manuscript is in progress using these data and will be published in the near future. Supplemental Information The Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is a Government of Canada initiative aimed at reducing the risks posed by chemicals to Canadians and their environment. A key element of the Chemicals Management Plan is the monitoring and surveillance of levels of harmful chemicals in Canadians and their environment. Monitoring and surveillance are essential to identify and track exposure to hazards in the environment and associated health implications. Monitoring and surveillance programs provide the basis for making sound and effective public health and environmental health policies and interventions, as well as measuring the efficacy of control measures. In support of the Chemicals Management Plan, monitoring and surveillance initiatives were established to support Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists, in collaboration with external partners and researchers, to advance our knowledge. This initiative has allowed the Government of Canada to increase its commitment to a number of existing monitoring initiatives, as well as to support new efforts. For more information on the Chemicals Management Plan, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/chemicals-management-plan.html 2025-03-12 Environment and Climate Change Canada DRCADonneesOuvertes-ACRDOpenData@ec.gc.ca Nature and EnvironmentFreshwater fishEnvironment View ECCC Data Mart (English)HTML https://data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca/data/substances/assess/chronic-effects-of-the-veterinary-antibiotic-florfenicol-in-lab-exposed-embryo-larval-fathead-minnows?lang=en View ECCC Data Mart (French)HTML https://data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca/data/substances/assess/chronic-effects-of-the-veterinary-antibiotic-florfenicol-in-lab-exposed-embryo-larval-fathead-minnows?lang=fr

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat bacterial diseases in farmed animals including fish, cows, and pigs. Concentrations of up to 3.4 micrograms per liter (µg/L) have been detected in waterways downstream of farming activities.

This study examined the toxicity effects of various concentrations of florfenicol on the embryo-larval stage of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Fathead minnows were exposed to the antibiotic from zero (0) days post fertilization (dpf) to sixteen (16) days post hatch (dph). Endpoints measured include hatch success, time to hatch, deformities at hatch, survival and growth. Measurements were taken at nine (9) dph and sixteen (16) dph. There were no significant differences found for any of the parameters between the control and the treatment groups.

A manuscript is in progress using these data and will be published in the near future.

Supplemental Information

The Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is a Government of Canada initiative aimed at reducing the risks posed by chemicals to Canadians and their environment. A key element of the Chemicals Management Plan is the monitoring and surveillance of levels of harmful chemicals in Canadians and their environment. Monitoring and surveillance are essential to identify and track exposure to hazards in the environment and associated health implications. Monitoring and surveillance programs provide the basis for making sound and effective public health and environmental health policies and interventions, as well as measuring the efficacy of control measures.

In support of the Chemicals Management Plan, monitoring and surveillance initiatives were established to support Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists, in collaboration with external partners and researchers, to advance our knowledge. This initiative has allowed the Government of Canada to increase its commitment to a number of existing monitoring initiatives, as well as to support new efforts.

For more information on the Chemicals Management Plan, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/chemicals-management-plan.html

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