Morphological effects of Bisphenol-A on the early life stages of medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Bisphenol-A (BPA), a widely used polycarbonate plasticizer, has been of con cern because it has been shown to leach out of plastics and other epoxy pro ducts. Primary sources of environmental releases are expected to be from BP A and epoxy manufacturing facilities. Although environmental concentrations may be limited, little is known about the effects of this compound on fish , particularly during their most sensitive early life stages, A pilot study exposing newly hatched medaka to 200 mug BPA/l for 96 h showed to be non-l ethal. In addition, medaka embryos were exposed beginning at 5 h post-ferti lization, for 9 days at 25 degreesC, to concentrations of 20 or 200 mug BPA /l (24 h static renewal). Embryos were monitored daily for development and gross abnormalities. Embryos exposed to 200 mug BPA/l did not exhibit abnor malities until after day 4. However, between days 4 and 8 the severity inde x (SI) score of embryos was significantly greater than those exposed to les ser concentrations. By day 9, SI scores were not statistically different am ong treatments. BPA caused transient embryonic deformities in medaka at env ironmentally relevant concentrations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd, All ri ghts reserved.