Single and combined effects of Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and bisphenol A on life traits of the tropical micro-crustacean Ceriodaphniacornuta

: Plastics, plastic additives, and their emission have attracted significant attention and concern both socially and scientifically. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol A (BPA) are two of the many plastic additives widely found in aquatic environments, which can have severe impacts on aquatic animals like micro-crustaceans. Therefore, this study assessed the chronic effects of DEHP and BPA, both individually and jointly, at environmental concentrations (e.g. 50 and 500 µg/l) on the survival rate, reproduction, and growth of the tropical micro-crustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta . We found that each of the two plastic additives, and a mixture of the two, had some influence on the survivorship of C. cornuta . While DEHP marginally enhanced the reproduction of the animals, BPA strongly inhibited it. Additionally, the mixture of DEHP and BPA caused a synergistic effect on reproduction but an antagonistic effect on the growth of C. cornuta . Both DEHP and BPA induced a significantly longer body of C. cornuta when exposed to these plastic additives. Our results showed that the tropical micro-crustacean C. cornuta is more sensitive to DEHP and BPA than the temperate micro-crustacean D. magna in relation to body length development and reproductive characteristics. Our findings enrich the knowledge of DEHP and BPA toxicity to tropical micro-crustaceans. Besides, our results are also of significant value to freshwater monitoring and environmental risk assessments of plastic additives.