Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan

The effects of triclosan (TCS) and its transformation product methyl-triclosan (MTCS) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida were investigated using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics. Earthworms were exposed to 0, 0.25, 1, 4, 16, and 64 µg g−1 of either TCS or MTCS for 14 days in co...

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Main Authors: J.D. Gillis, G.W. Price, S.O. Prasher, Behnam Asgari Lajayer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325004646
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author J.D. Gillis
G.W. Price
S.O. Prasher
Behnam Asgari Lajayer
author_facet J.D. Gillis
G.W. Price
S.O. Prasher
Behnam Asgari Lajayer
author_sort J.D. Gillis
collection DOAJ
description The effects of triclosan (TCS) and its transformation product methyl-triclosan (MTCS) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida were investigated using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics. Earthworms were exposed to 0, 0.25, 1, 4, 16, and 64 µg g−1 of either TCS or MTCS for 14 days in commercial worm bedding. Only MTCS exposure caused any effects on the earthworm metabolites targeted in this study. Succinic acid was elevated relative to the control at concentrations ≥ 0.25 µg g−1 and glucose was elevated at 1 µg g−1. Earthworms exposed to 1 µg g−1 MTCS had the greatest separation from the control using Principal Components Analysis (PCA), while 0.25 and 1 µg g−1 had the largest separation in Discriminant Analysis (DA). Essential amino acids valine, leucine, serine, and phenylalanine had large, standardized coefficients for PCA and DA reflecting their contribution to separation, suggesting that essential amino acid homeostasis was perturbed by MTCS. Malic acid, succinic acid, margaric acid, and glucose were highly correlated (p < 0.01) with Canonical 1 and PC 2, while maltose was correlated with Canonical 2 and PC 7, indicating a strong relationship between these metabolites and the multivariate separation expressed in the canonical variables. Disruption of succinate metabolism by membrane destabilization in mitochondria was hypothesized as a possible mode of action for MTCS.
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spelling doaj-art-1f1bc2d4809946f1ae81bdc2000a29212025-08-20T03:17:35ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-04-0129411812810.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118128Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosanJ.D. Gillis0G.W. Price1S.O. Prasher2Behnam Asgari Lajayer3Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald-Stewart Building MS1-027, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, CanadaDepartment of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture, 39 Cox Road, PO Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 5E3, Canada; Corresponding author.Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Macdonald-Stewart Building MS1-027, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, CanadaDepartment of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture, 39 Cox Road, PO Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 5E3, CanadaThe effects of triclosan (TCS) and its transformation product methyl-triclosan (MTCS) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida were investigated using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics. Earthworms were exposed to 0, 0.25, 1, 4, 16, and 64 µg g−1 of either TCS or MTCS for 14 days in commercial worm bedding. Only MTCS exposure caused any effects on the earthworm metabolites targeted in this study. Succinic acid was elevated relative to the control at concentrations ≥ 0.25 µg g−1 and glucose was elevated at 1 µg g−1. Earthworms exposed to 1 µg g−1 MTCS had the greatest separation from the control using Principal Components Analysis (PCA), while 0.25 and 1 µg g−1 had the largest separation in Discriminant Analysis (DA). Essential amino acids valine, leucine, serine, and phenylalanine had large, standardized coefficients for PCA and DA reflecting their contribution to separation, suggesting that essential amino acid homeostasis was perturbed by MTCS. Malic acid, succinic acid, margaric acid, and glucose were highly correlated (p < 0.01) with Canonical 1 and PC 2, while maltose was correlated with Canonical 2 and PC 7, indicating a strong relationship between these metabolites and the multivariate separation expressed in the canonical variables. Disruption of succinate metabolism by membrane destabilization in mitochondria was hypothesized as a possible mode of action for MTCS.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325004646MetabolomicsEarthwormTriclosanMethyl-triclosanGC-MS
spellingShingle J.D. Gillis
G.W. Price
S.O. Prasher
Behnam Asgari Lajayer
Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Metabolomics
Earthworm
Triclosan
Methyl-triclosan
GC-MS
title Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan
title_full Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan
title_fullStr Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan
title_full_unstemmed Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan
title_short Metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of the transformation product methyl-triclosan
title_sort metabolomics reveals increased toxicity in earthworms eisenia fetida of the transformation product methyl triclosan
topic Metabolomics
Earthworm
Triclosan
Methyl-triclosan
GC-MS
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325004646
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AT soprasher metabolomicsrevealsincreasedtoxicityinearthwormseiseniafetidaofthetransformationproductmethyltriclosan
AT behnamasgarilajayer metabolomicsrevealsincreasedtoxicityinearthwormseiseniafetidaofthetransformationproductmethyltriclosan