Coumarin 47 and permethrin effects on zebrafish embryos: : FET tests and behavioural challenges

Abstract: An environment is defined as polluted when contaminants are introduced within it and causeadverse effects to its ecosystem. Chemical pollutants can migrate and often affect severalenvironmental compartments: for instance, chemicals can leach from polluted soil intogroundwater, or they can evaporate and disperse into the atmosphere.The recent advent of industrialisation and urbanisation has brought on the daily discharge ofharmful chemicals, such as heavy metals, organic pollutants and radioactive materials, into theenvironment via a high number of contamination sources, both commercial and industrial.More and more chemicals are identified as harmful to humans and the environment every year;in regard to the seemingly unsurmountable number of new ones being constantly introduced tothe market, it is important that authorities keep improving the efficiency of regulatoryprocedures and safety testing. This includes supporting scientific research which isfundamental for improving our understanding of the mechanisms of action of these chemicalsin order to handle them properly.In the present study, FET (Fish Embryo acute Toxicity) tests and behavioural challenges wereperformed on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to investigate coumarin 47 andpermethrin in terms of toxicity and effect on larval photomotor response. A change inlocomotor activity in response to a light-to-dark transition stimulus is often the ultimate causeof exposure to specific neurotoxic agents, making it a useful endpoint in assessing centralnervous system toxicity, while FET tests are a guideline tool employed in the determination ofdevelopmental toxicity and teratogenicity.4Overall, the results obtained provided a significant understanding on the toxicity endpoints ofthe selected test compounds to be employed as references for future investigations.